mimic

UK: /ˈmɪmɪk/ US: /ˈmɪmɪk/ ,(mim′ik)

Inflections of 'mimic' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

mimics

v 3rd person singular

mimicking

v pres p

mimicked

v past

mimicked

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

mim•ic /ˈmɪmɪk/   v., -icked, -ick•ing, n. 
v. [~ + object]

1. to imitate or copy in action, speech, etc., often playfully, sometimes to insult another:
   He mimicked the teacher's scolding.
2. to resemble closely:
   This virus mimics the effects of the other.

n. [countable]

3. a person or thing that mimics, esp. a performer.

mim•ick•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mim•ic  (mim′ik), v., -icked, -ick•ing, n., adj. 
v.t. 

1. to imitate or copy in action, speech, etc., often playfully or derisively.
2. to imitate in a servile or unthinking way;
   ape.
3. to be an imitation of;
   simulate;
   resemble closely.

n. 

4. a person who mimics, esp. a performer skilled in mimicking others.
5. a copy or imitation of something.
6. a performer in a mime.

adj. 

7. imitating or copying something, often on a smaller scale:
   a mimic battle.
8. apt at or given to imitating;
   imitative;
   simulative.

• Greek mīmikós. See mime, -ic
• Latin mīmicus
• 1580–90

mim′ick•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. follow, mock; impersonate; simulate, counterfeit.
• 7. mock, simulated.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

mimic / ˈmɪmɪk/ verb ( -ics, -icking, -icked)(transitive)

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

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin mīmicus, from Greek mimikos, from mimos mime

ˈmimicker noun