---
title: simile — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «simile» in the school dictionary: A simile is a way of describing something by comparing it to something else using «like» or «as»: «as brave as a lion», «she ran like the wind». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# simile

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** simile, way, lion, Similes, reader, white · **What happens:** be, describe, compare, use, run, help · **To what, where:** way, something, simile, reader, storm, new similes · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«simile» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [simile in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/simile.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A simile is a way of describing something by comparing it to something else using «like» or «as»: «as brave as a lion», «she ran like the wind».

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simile:m1:1
# text = A simile is a way of describing something by comparing it to something else using «like» or «as»: «as brave as a lion», «she ran like the wind».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	simile	simile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	of	of	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
7	describing	describe	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	acl	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	_
9	by	by	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
10	comparing	compare	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	7	advcl	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	to	to	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	10	obl	_	_
14	else	else	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
15	using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	acl	_	_
16	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	like	like	INTJ	UH	_	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	_
19	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	21	cc	_	_
20	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	as	as	ADV	RB	_	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	21	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	26	punct	_	_
24	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	as	as	ADV	RB	_	26	advmod	_	_
26	brave	brave	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	parataxis	_	_
27	as	as	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	lion	lion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	34	punct	_	_
32	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	34	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
33	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	34	nsubj	_	_
34	ran	run	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	26	conj	_	_
35	like	like	ADP	IN	_	37	case	_	_
36	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	37	det	_	_
37	wind	wind	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	34	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
38	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
39	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a simile | a way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **describe** | gerund | a way *not said here* | something |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 3 | **compare** | gerund | a way *not said here* | simile |  |  |  | to something | vn amalgamate-22.2-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Patient |
| 4 | **use** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent like=Patient |
| 5 | **run** *in a quote* | past | lion |  |  |  |  | like the wind | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Similes help the reader picture something more clearly or feel it more strongly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simile:m2:1
# text = Similes help the reader picture something more clearly or feel it more strongly.
1	Similes	simile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	help	help	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	reader	reader	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	picture	picture	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	obj	_	_
7	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	8	advmod	_	_
8	clearly	clearly	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	feel	feel	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
11	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obj	_	_
12	more	more	ADV	RBR	Degree=Cmp	13	advmod	_	_
13	strongly	strongly	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Similes | the reader |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent reader=Beneficiary clause=Theme |
| 2 | **picture** | infinitive | the reader *not said here* | something |  |  |  | clearly *property* | vn characterize-29.2 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 3 | **feel** | infinitive | the reader *not said here* | reader |  |  |  | strongly *property* | vn hunt-35.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«As white as snow» is a simile.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simile:x1:1
# text = «As white as snow» is a simile.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	As	as	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
3	white	white	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	nsubj	_	_
4	as	as	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	snow	snow	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	simile	simile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | white | a simile |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«He ate like a horse» is a simile using «like».

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simile:x2:1
# text = «He ate like a horse» is a simile using «like».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	csubj	_	_
4	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	horse	horse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	3	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	simile	simile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	using	use	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	10	acl	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	like	like	INTJ	UH	_	11	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** *in a quote* | past | He |  |  |  |  | like a horse | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a simile |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **use** | gerund | a simile *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Write a simile to describe the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simile:x3:1
# text = Write a simile to describe the storm.
1	Write	write	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	simile	simile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	describe	describe	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | imperative | you *not said here* | a simile |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent simile=Theme |
| 2 | **describe** | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | the storm |  |  |  |  | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent storm=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Her eyes shone like stars» is a simile.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simile:x4:1
# text = «Her eyes shone like stars» is a simile.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
3	eyes	eye	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	shone	shine	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	csubj	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	stars	star	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	simile	simile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shine** *in a quote* | past | Her eyes |  |  |  |  | like stars | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a simile |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A simile uses «like» or «as»; a metaphor does not.

<!-- fold The tree, 10 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simile:x5:1
# text = A simile uses «like» or «as»; a metaphor does not.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	simile	simile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	uses	use	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	like	like	INTJ	UH	_	3	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	as	as	ADV	RB	_	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	metaphor	metaphor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	does	do	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
15	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	14	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | a simile |  |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **not** **do** | present | a metaphor |  |  |  |  |  | vn act-114-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«The classroom was as quiet as a mouse» is a simile.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simile:x6:1
# text = «The classroom was as quiet as a mouse» is a simile.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	classroom	classroom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	as	as	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	quiet	quiet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	csubj	_	_
7	as	as	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	mouse	mouse	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	simile	simile	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** *in a quote* | past | the classroom |  |  |  |  | as a mouse; quiet *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a simile |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Try to invent new similes instead of using old ones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:simile:x7:1
# text = Try to invent new similes instead of using old ones.
1	Try	try	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	to	to	PART	TO	_	3	mark	_	_
3	invent	invent	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	xcomp	_	_
4	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	similes	simile	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	instead	instead	ADV	RB	ExtPos=SCONJ	8	mark	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
9	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	ones	one	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **invent** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | you *not said here* | new similes |  |  |  |  | vn create-26.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent simile=Result |
| 3 | **use** | gerund | you *not said here* | old ones |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent one=Patient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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