mime

American  

[mahym, meem] / maɪm, mim /

noun

1. the art or technique of portraying a character, mood, idea, or narration by gestures and bodily movements; pantomime.

2. an actor who specializes in this art.

3. an ancient Greek or Roman farce that depended for effect largely upon ludicrous actions and gestures.

4. a player in such a farce.

5. mimic.

6. a jester, clown, or comedian.

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verb (used with object)

mimed, miming

1. to mimic.

2. to act in mime.

verb (used without object)

mimed, miming

1. to play a part by mime or mimicry.

mime ¹ British  

/ maɪm /

noun

1. the theatrical technique of expressing an idea or mood or portraying a character entirely by gesture and bodily movement without the use of words

2. Also called: mime artist.  a performer specializing in such a technique, esp a comic actor

3. a dramatic presentation using such a technique

4. 1. a comic performance depending for effect largely on exaggerated gesture and physical action

   2. an actor in such a performance

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verb

1. to express (an idea) in actions or gestures without speech

2. (of singers or musicians) to perform as if singing (a song) or playing (a piece of music) that is actually prerecorded

MIME ² British  

abbreviation

1. multipurpose internet mail extensions

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Other Word Forms

• mimer noun

Etymology

Origin of mime

1610–20; < Latin mīmus < Greek mîmos imitator, mime, akin to mīmeîsthai to copy, imitate

Example Sentences

She recalled how he enjoyed comedy and music, particularly David Bowie, whose songs he would mime along to.

From BBC

So then, if this is Percy and this is Stack, what they would do is he would go get changed, be Smoke, and we would kind of mime the scene.

From Los Angeles Times

Alicia Washington’s direction was clear, though she was understandably flummoxed about how to stage musician characters who don’t play their instruments and resorted to miming and posing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Standing with one foot on the right peg of his bike in a half-pirouette, Miranda mimed pumping his other foot across the pavement as if propelling a scooter.

From Los Angeles Times

Whereupon Alexander mimed the death of the very last dodo, and a tragic, squawking death it was.

From Literature

Related Words

• comedian