mime

[ mahym, meem ]
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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.

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

  2. a player in such a farce.

  3. a jester, clown, or comedian.

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

  2. to act in mime.

verb (used without object),mimed, mim·ing.
  1. to play a part by mime or mimicry.

Origin of mime

1
1610–20; <Latin mīmus<Greek mîmos imitator, mime, akin to mīmeîsthai to copy, imitate

Other words from mime

  • mimer, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use mime in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mime (1 of 2)

mime

/ (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

  1. a dramatic presentation using such a technique

  2. (in the classical theatre)

    • a comic performance depending for effect largely on exaggerated gesture and physical action

    • an actor in such a performance

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

Origin of mime

1
Old English mīma, from Latin mīmus mimic actor, from Greek mimos imitator

Derived forms of mime

  • mimer, noun

British Dictionary definitions for MIME (2 of 2)

MIME

/ computing /


abbreviation for
  1. 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