mimic

[ mim-ik ]

verb (used with object)

, mim·icked, mim·ick·ing.

1. to imitate or copy in action, speech, etc., often playfully or derisively.

   Synonyms: counterfeit, simulate, impersonate, mock, follow

2. to imitate in a servile or unthinking way; ape.
3. to be an imitation of; simulate; resemble closely.

noun

1. a person who mimics, especially a performer skilled in mimicking others.
2. a copy or imitation of something.
3. a performer in a mime.

adjective

1. imitating or copying something, often on a smaller scale:

   a mimic battle.

   Synonyms: mock

2. apt at or given to imitating; imitative; simulative.

mimic

/ ˈmɪmɪk /

verb

1. to imitate (a person, a manner, etc), esp for satirical effect; ape

   known mainly for his ability to mimic other singers

2. to take on the appearance of; resemble closely

   certain flies mimic wasps

3. to copy closely or in a servile manner

noun

1. a person or an animal, such as a parrot, that is clever at mimicking
2. an animal that displays mimicry

adjective

1. of, relating to, or using mimicry; imitative
2. simulated, make-believe, or mock

Derived Forms

• ˈmimicker, noun

Other Words From

• mimick·er noun
• un·mimicked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mimic¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin mīmicus, from Greek mīmikós; equivalent to mime + -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of mimic¹

C16: from Latin mīmicus, from Greek mimikos, from mimos mime

Example Sentences

Like remdesivir, favipiravir works by mimicking a building block of the virus’s genetic material, RNA.

From Science News

It also focuses more on content about staycations, or recipes one can cook to mimic being someplace new.

From Digiday

That observing setup mimicked the way astronomers plan to probe the atmospheres of Earthlike exoplanets as they pass in front of their stars, filtering out some starlight.

From Science News

Next, clinicians should look for other explanations, conditions that could mimic brain death but are actually reversible.

From Science News

The multimedia brand mimics the experience of Wolfe Pereira and his co-founders, all of whom grew up in multicultural households.

From Ozy

When my hair gets long enough I kid myself I can mimic the glorious tumbling fringe of “the Rachel” sometimes.

From The Daily Beast

But under what moral principle must a nation mimic both the madness and the misdirection of its enemy?

From The Daily Beast

The results: Even moderate MDMA doses in conditions that mimic hot, crowded, social settings could be lethal to rats.

From The Daily Beast

The team designed over 40 themed soundscapes that mimic environments, all of which are free to download.

From The Daily Beast

He slowed down the action at times for effect; he jolted the camera to mimic the jittery imperfection of a documentary.

From The Daily Beast

For others life is but a foolish leisure with mock activities and mimic avocations to mask its uselessness.

From Project Gutenberg

Very often the little ones mimic it in fun, and children's games, most times, are copies of their elders' workaday doings.

From Project Gutenberg

Samuel cried at the loss of his pretty kite, and Charles Duran was mean enough to mimic the boy whom he had thus injured.

From Project Gutenberg

That monarch, easily the first comedian of his time, allowed no rivals on the mimic stage, and it languished during his reign.

From Project Gutenberg

It was almost as if, for a brief interval, the mimic was the scholar, though always with the drop of ridicule or mischief added.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• mime