mimic

/ˈmɪmɪk/

Say it: MIM-ik

1. verb To imitate someone's actions or words, especially in order to entertain or ridicule.
He could perfectly mimic his father's deep, booming voice.
2. verb To resemble or copy something very closely, often as a form of camouflage or adaptation.
The viceroy butterfly mimics the monarch to deter predators.
3. noun A person skilled in imitating the voice, mannerisms, or appearance of others.
As a natural mimic, she entertained us all with her impressions of the teachers.
4. adjective Relating to, characteristic of, or skilled in imitation.
The parrot's mimic abilities were astounding.

📖 Seen in the wild

The comedian could perfectly mimic the president's distinctive speaking style.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ mimic in a sentence

The new synthetic fabric is designed to mimic the texture of real silk.
Children often learn by mimicking the behavior of their parents.
The report warned of fraudulent emails that mimic official bank communications.
His talent show act consisted of mimicking famous singers from the 1980s.
In architecture, the new wing was built to mimic the style of the original 18th-century structure.
The software uses artificial intelligence to mimic human conversation.
She had a habit of unconsciously mimicking the gestures of the person she was talking to.

🔁 Synonyms

imitate ape mock impersonate copy emulate mirror parrot

imitate · a more general and neutral term for copying someone or something.

ape · suggests a clumsy, unthinking, or inferior imitation.

mock · implies imitating someone specifically to make fun of them.

impersonate · usually means to imitate a person's entire character, often for performance.

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'mimic' traces its roots back to the Greek 'mimos', meaning an imitator or actor. It entered English through the Latin 'mimicus' and French 'mimique', initially referring to theatrical imitation. The scientific sense, used to describe animals and plants that copy their environment, developed much later in the 19th century.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

mimic someone's voicemimic the behavior ofperfectly mimica clever mimicnatural mimicrymimic the appearance of

Mimic is a versatile word used for both humorous imitation and scientific resemblance. When applied to a person's behavior, it can carry a slightly negative connotation, suggesting a lack of originality or thought. Be aware of this nuance; calling an artist's style 'mimicry' is less complimentary than saying it is 'reminiscent of' another's. In biology and technology, the word is purely descriptive and neutral.

Word family: mimicry, mimicker, unmimicked

💬 Quick answers

What does mimic mean?

To mimic is to imitate or copy someone or something. It can refer to a skillful or humorous impression of a person, or to a close resemblance in nature or technology, like an insect mimicking a leaf.

What is the difference between mimic and imitate?

'Imitate' is a broad, neutral word for copying. 'Mimic' often implies a more precise, skillful, and sometimes mocking copy, especially of a person's voice and mannerisms.

Is mimic a negative word?

It can be. While it can describe a talent, like a comedian who is a great mimic, calling someone a mimic can also suggest they lack originality and just copy others.

Can you mimic something besides a person?

Yes, absolutely. The word is very common in biology to describe how animals and plants mimic their surroundings for protection. It's also used in technology for systems that mimic human processes.

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