Adjacent Words

Imitate definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

IMI'TATE, v.t. [L. imitor; allied perhaps to Gr. similar, equal.]
1. To follow in manners; to copy in form, color or quality. We imitate another in dress or manners; we imitate a statue, a painting, a sound, an action, when we make or do that which resembles it. We should seek the best models to imitate, and in morals and piety, it is our duty to imitate the example of our Savior. But as we cannot always make an exact similitude of the original,hence,
2. To attempt or endeavor to copy or resemble; as, to imitate the colors of the rainbow, or any of the beauties of nature. Cicero appears to have imitated the Greek orators.
3. To counterfeit.
This hand appear'd a shining sword to wield,
And that sustain'd an imitated shield.
4. To pursue the course of a composition, so as to use like images and examples.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: reproduce someone's behavior or looks; "The mime imitated the passers-by"; "Children often copy their parents or older siblings" [syn: imitate, copy, simulate]
2: appear like, as in behavior or appearance; "Life imitate art"
3: make a reproduction or copy of

Merriam Webster's

transitive verb (-tated; -tating) Etymology: Latin imitatus, past participle of imitari — more at image Date: 1534 1. to follow as a pattern, model, or example 2. to be or appear like ; resemble 3. to produce a copy of ; reproduce 4. mimic, counterfeit <can imitate his father's booming voice> Synonyms: see copy • imitator noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. 1 follow the example of; copy the action(s) of. 2 mimic. 3 make a copy of; reproduce. 4 be (consciously or not) like. Derivatives: imitable adj. imitator n. Etymology: L imitari imitat-, rel. to imago IMAGE

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Imitate Im"i*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Imitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Imitating.] [L. imitatus, p. p. of imitari to imitate; of unknown origin. Cf. Image.] 1. To follow as a pattern, model, or example; to copy or strive to copy, in acts, manners etc. Despise wealth and imitate a dog. --Cowlay. 2. To produce a semblance or likeness of, in form, character, color, qualities, conduct, manners, and the like; to counterfeit; to copy. A place picked out by choice of best alive The Nature's work by art can imitate. --Spenser. This hand appeared a shining sword to weild, And that sustained an imitated shield. --Dryden. 3. (Biol.) To resemble (another species of animal, or a plant, or inanimate object) in form, color, ornamentation, or instinctive habits, so as to derive an advantage thereby; sa, when a harmless snake imitates a venomous one in color and manner, or when an odorless insect imitates, in color, one having secretion offensive to birds.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(imitates, imitating, imitated) 1. If you imitate someone, you copy what they do or produce. ...a genuine German musical which does not try to imitate the American model. VERB: V n 2. If you imitate a person or animal, you copy the way they speak or behave, usually because you are trying to be funny. Clarence screws up his face and imitates the Colonel again. = mimic VERB: V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. 1. Copy, follow, pattern after. 2. Mimic, ape, mock, personate, impersonate, take off. 3. Parody, travesty, burlesque, turn into burlesque.

Moby Thesaurus

act like, adopt, affect, ape, appear like, approach, appropriate, approximate, assume, be like, be redolent of, bear resemblance, borrow, bring to mind, burlesque, call to mind, call up, caricature, chorus, come again, come close, come near, compare with, copy, correspond, counterfeit, crib, derive from, ditto, do, do a repeat, do again, do like, do over, double, duplicate, echo, emulate, evoke, fake, favor, follow, forge, go like, hoke, hoke up, impersonate, infringe, look like, make like, make use of, match, mimic, mirror, mock, monkey, near, nearly reproduce, not tell apart, parallel, parody, parrot, partake of, pirate, plagiarize, quote, redo, redouble, reduplicate, reecho, reflect, regurgitate, reincarnate, remind one of, renew, repeat, replicate, reproduce, resemble, revive, satirize, savor of, say again, seem like, send up, simulate, smack of, sound like, spoof, stack up with, steal, suggest, take, take after, take off, take on, take over, travesty