In “Paper is like silk in softness,” both paper and silk are objects known through touch. They are therefore sensory terms, and the analogy evokes a recognizable bodily experience.
Sensory comparisons are not restricted to sight. Hearing, smell, taste and touch may also provide the basis of the two terms. A voice may be compared with another sound, or softness with the softness of silk.
Opening interactive controls...
Ilm al-Bayan and Simile: Definition, Elements, Terms and Particles
In “Paper is like silk in softness,” both paper and silk are objects known through touch. They are therefore sensory terms, and the analogy evokes a recognizable bodily experience.
Sensory comparisons are not restricted to sight. Hearing, smell, taste and touch may also provide the basis of the two terms. A voice may be compared with another sound, or softness with the softness of silk.