Sure! Here are definitions and examples for each of the terms you've asked for:
1. METAPHOR
Definition: A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things by stating that one is the other, suggesting an implicit similarity.
Example: "Time is a thief."
(This suggests that time can take away moments from our lives, similar to how a thief would take possessions.)
2. SIMILE
Definition: A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as." It highlights the similarities between them.
Example: "Her smile is like sunshine."
(This compares a smile to sunshine, suggesting that it brings warmth and happiness.)
3. IDIOM
Definition: An idiom is a phrase or expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements. Idioms often convey a figurative meaning that is separate from the literal meaning.
Example: "It's raining cats and dogs."
(This means that it is raining very heavily, not that actual cats and dogs are falling from the sky.)
4. OXYMORON
Definition: An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction, creating a paradoxical effect.
Example: "Deafening silence."
(This phrase juxtaposes "deafening," suggesting loudness, with "silence," suggesting an absence of sound, to convey a strong sense of quietness.)
5. HYPERBOLE
Definition: Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement or claim that is not meant to be taken literally. It is often used for emphasis or rhetorical effect.
Example: "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."
(This exaggerates the speaker's hunger to emphasize how very hungry they feel.)
6. PERSONIFICATION
Definition: Personification is a figure of speech in which human qualities or characteristics are attributed to non-human entities or abstract concepts.
Example: "The wind whispered through the trees."
(This gives the wind human-like qualities, suggesting that it is capable of whispering.)
Feel free to ask if you need further clarification or examples!
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