What do we call a comparison of two things using "like" or "as"?

A comparison of two things using "like" or "as" is specifically known as a simile. Similes create vivid imagery by drawing parallels between different objects or ideas, helping readers to understand and visualize them better. For example, saying "as brave as a lion" highlights the quality of bravery by relating it directly to the well-known characteristics of a lion.

This form of comparison is distinct from other literary devices. A metaphor, for instance, also makes comparisons but does so without using "like" or "as," suggesting that one thing is another, such as saying "time is a thief." An analogy is a broader comparison that usually explains a concept by comparing it to another more familiar concept, often used to clarify ideas. Hyperbole involves exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally, such as "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." Each of these devices has its own specific use in language and literature, but when it comes to using "like" or "as," simile is the correct term.