mime
[mahym, meem]
- 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.
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- to mimic.
- to act in mime.
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- to play a part by mime or mimicry.
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Origin of mime
1610–20; < Latin mīmus < Greek mîmos imitator, mime, akin to mīmeîsthai to copy, imitate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for mime
Contemporary Examples
Four years from now, I expect to see the presidential debates conducted entirely in mime.
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.
Historical Examples
Was it at all surprising that he should have made so rapid and signal a success as a mime?
ScaramoucheRafael Sabatini
"Only leave me to myself," the Mime sobbed, moving his sore body.
Operas Every Child Should KnowMary Schell Hoke Bacon
He looked long and curiously at the Mime and could read his heart.
Operas Every Child Should KnowMary Schell Hoke Bacon
Siegfried must do this and the Mime should profit by it, and afterward kill Siegfried.
Operas Every Child Should KnowMary Schell Hoke Bacon
"Now we have arrived where the Dragon lives," the Mime said to Siegfried.
Operas Every Child Should KnowMary Schell Hoke Bacon
mime
- 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
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- 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
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Word Origin
Old English mīma, from Latin mīmus mimic actor, from Greek mimos imitator
MIME
- multipurpose internet mail extensions
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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
n.
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."
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v.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper