mime

[mahym, meem]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR mime ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

an actor who specializes in this art.

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

a player in such a farce.

mimic(def 4).

a jester, clown, or comedian.

verb (used with object), mimed, mim·ing.

to mimic.

to act in mime.

verb (used without object), mimed, mim·ing.

to play a part by mime or mimicry.

Origin of mime

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

Related formsmim·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for mime

comedian, pantomime, impersonator, mimic, imitator, pantomimist, caricature, mimicry, imitation, mockery, imitate, pretend, impersonate, represent, farce, clown, buffoon, copy, ape

Examples from the Web for mime

Contemporary Examples of mime

Four years from now, I expect to see the presidential debates conducted entirely in mime.
The Flapdoodle Campaign
Megan McArdle
October 23, 2012
I do this thing where I hold my breath and turn my face red right before I run across stage to mime throwing up in the trash can.
Pablo Schreiber on His New Off-Broadway Play
Kevin Sessums
February 1, 2011

Historical Examples of mime

Was it at all surprising that he should have made so rapid and signal a success as a mime?
Scaramouche
Rafael Sabatini
"Only leave me to myself," the Mime sobbed, moving his sore body.
Operas Every Child Should Know
Mary Schell Hoke Bacon
He looked long and curiously at the Mime and could read his heart.
Operas Every Child Should Know
Mary Schell Hoke Bacon
Siegfried must do this and the Mime should profit by it, and afterward kill Siegfried.
Operas Every Child Should Know
Mary Schell Hoke Bacon
"Now we have arrived where the Dragon lives," the Mime said to Siegfried.
Operas Every Child Should Know
Mary Schell Hoke Bacon

British Dictionary definitions for mime

mime

noun

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

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

a dramatic presentation using such a technique

(in the classical theatre)

a comic performance depending for effect largely on exaggerated gesture and physical action
an actor in such a performance

verb

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

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

Derived Formsmimer, noun

Word Origin for mime

Old English mīma, from Latin mīmus mimic actor, from Greek mimos imitator

MIME

abbreviation for

multipurpose internet mail extensions

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for mime

c.1600, "a buffoon who practices gesticulations" [Johnson], from French mime (16c.) and directly from Latin mimus, from Greek mimos "imitator, mimic, actor, mime, buffoon," of unknown origin. In reference to a performance, 1640s in a classical context; 1932 as "a pantomime."

1610s, "to act without words," from mime (n.). The transferred sense of "to imitate" is from 1733 (Greek mimeisthai meant "to imitate"). Meaning "to pretend to be singing a pre-recorded song" is from 1965. Related: mimed; miming.