What term refers to one thing being described in terms of another, closely related thing?

The correct answer is metonymy, which is a figure of speech where one thing is represented by the name of something closely associated with it. This literary device allows for more vivid and nuanced expressions in language by substituting a word or phrase with something that is contextually related. For example, referring to the "crown" when discussing royal authority or leadership highlights the association between the physical object and the concept of power.

The other options do not fit this definition: alliteration involves the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, which creates rhythm and musicality in language but does not involve description through association. Personification gives human traits to non-human entities, enhancing creativity but again not relating one thing through another in the manner metonymy does. Hyperbole, on the other hand, uses exaggerated statements for emphasis or effect, which differs significantly from the idea of describing one thing in terms of another closely related object or concept.