What is the difference between a metaphor and a simile?

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What is the difference between a metaphor and a simile?

A metaphor and a simile are both literary devices used to make comparisons, but they differ in their approach.

A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two unrelated things by stating that one thing is another. It does not use "like" or "as" to make the comparison. For example, "Her voice is music to my ears" is a metaphor where the voice is compared to music, implying that it is pleasant and enjoyable.

On the other hand, a simile is a figure of speech that compares two unrelated things using "like" or "as." It explicitly states that one thing is similar to another. For example, "Her voice is like music to my ears" is a simile where the voice is compared to music, indicating that it has a similar effect of being pleasant and enjoyable.

In summary, the main difference between a metaphor and a simile is that a metaphor directly states that one thing is another, while a simile uses "like" or "as" to make a comparison.