What Does simile Mean
Simile is a term originating from the Latin word similis that refers to similarity . The concept, therefore, is used to establish a comparison between two things. For example: "Paula has a cocker-breed dog-like hairstyle that is very nice" , "I have a similar blender car: when walking, it shakes everywhere" , "Be careful with those rosehip-like fruits since they are toxic and they cannot be eaten ” .
In literature , simile is a rhetorical figure that consists of the express comparison between one thing and another, to give an effective idea of one of them. When establishing the comparison by similarity, the symbolic or physical characteristics are transferred from one to another.
Unlike the figure of the metaphor , similes appeal to relational elements such as “what” , “how” or “which” . The phrase "His eyes like two emeralds shone in the night" is a simile that draws a parallel between green eyes and precious stones. It is possible to say that the simile is a type of metaphor, although the reverse is not the case. The latter resort substitutes terms for others whose meanings are different, while the former uses them simultaneously.
Similes appear in literary works as a way to convey a message and provide a distinctive aesthetic feature: "The intricate streets like a labyrinth delayed the traveler, who could not find the direction they had indicated" , "His fists like missiles were they crashed on the wall at the tragic news ” , “ The lineman was accompanied by dogs like guardian angels that guarded his steps ” .
It should be noted that similes are also spontaneously used in everyday life : "Be careful if you go out at night because the street is pitch black" , "Fabio is tall and skinny like a lamp post" . In this context, such comparisons may have derogatory overtones or serve to emphasize an idea or advice, for example.
The use of similes in popular language is very common in informal conversations, as opposed to their use in literature, which can express more complex ideas than those seen at first glance. When not talking about set phrases, these comparisons are included in oral communication to exaggerate certain observations and often add humorous touches to speech. It should be noted that not all cultures make use of this resource in the same proportion.
Hydraulic simile
It is known by the name of hydraulic simile to a circuit similar to an electric one that serves to make the water move. For the liquid to be able to circulate along a certain path, it is necessary that its level is higher in one of the two tanks used and that the unevenness be maintained with a pump, so that the circulation is carried out continuously.
To understand the comparison with an electrical circuit, it is important to mention that the role that the pump plays in this case (of maintaining the difference in level between the two tanks) is played by a battery, which in its context manages the voltage .
The resistance of a hydraulic simile is based on the following three variables: the width of the pipe, the elbows and the constrictions. On the other hand, the intensity of the water that passes through the circuit (also known as flow ) depends directly on the height and inversely proportional to the resistance.
In other words, when the head increases, so does the flow rate and, likewise, there is a direct ratio between current and voltage. When the section of the pipe increases, the resistance drops and the flow rate becomes higher. From this it follows that there is an inversely proportional relationship between intensity and resistance.