What is the term for a comparison of two things?

The term "analogy" refers to a comparison where two things are shown to be similar in certain aspects, often to explain or clarify a concept by relating it to something more familiar. Analogies draw parallels between different contexts, allowing for a deeper understanding by linking the known with the unknown.

In literature and education, analogies are commonly used to illustrate a point or to make complex ideas more accessible. For example, when explaining how a computer works, one might use an analogy comparing it to a human brain, indicating that both process information but in different ways.

The other terms, while related to comparison, do not encompass the full scope and purpose of an analogy. A "comparison" is a general term that lacks the specific nuance of relational similarity across different contexts that an analogy provides. A "metaphor" is a figure of speech that describes one thing as another, without using "like" or "as," while a "simile" explicitly compares two different things using "like" or "as." These last two focus on direct comparisons rather than the broader relational understanding that an analogy conveys.