mimicry

American  

[mim-ik-ree] / ˈmɪm ɪk ri /

noun

plural

mimicries

1. the act, practice, or art of mimicking.

2. Biology. the close external resemblance of an organism, the mimic, to some different organism, the model, such that the mimic benefits from the mistaken identity, as seeming to be unpalatable or harmful.

3. an instance, performance, or result of mimicking.

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mimicry British  

/ ˈmɪmɪkrɪ /

noun

1. the act or art of copying or imitating closely; mimicking

2. the resemblance shown by one animal species, esp an insect, to another, which protects it from predators

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mimicry Scientific  

/ mĭm′ĭ-krē /

1. The resemblance of one organism to another or to an object in its surroundings for concealment or protection from predators.

2. See also aggressive mimicry Batesian mimicry Müllerian mimicry

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Etymology

Origin of mimicry

First recorded in 1680–90; mimic + -ry

Example Sentences

So can the capital's wildlife compare to the broadcaster's encounters with mountain gorillas in Rwanda, the mimicry of a lyrebird in Australia or a blue whale breaching beside his small boat?

From BBC

And luckily I have a skill for mimicry, so I can do that.

From Los Angeles Times

His huge talent for comic sketches, mimicry and song was awarded with similarly huge budgets by grateful commissioners.

From BBC

That AI can, for a moment, fool our ears is a testament to its power as mimicry.

From The Wall Street Journal

Therefore I propose that someone with a keen sense of the theatrical, a talent for mimicry and improvising dialogue—a playwright, perhaps?—be engaged as an understudy to the ghost, as it were.”

From Literature

Related Words

• pastiche