Word
imitation
Phoneticsim·i·ta·tion
US/ˌɪməˈteɪʃən/
UK/ˌɪmɪtˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01the act of copying
n. the act of copying the way someone speaks, moves, or behaves.
n. the act of mimicking or replicating the behaviour, speech, or appearance of another person.
“The comedian did a perfect imitation of the president's voice.”
“Children learn social cues through the constant imitation of their parents and peers during early developmental stages.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of'.
02a copy
n. a thing that is made to look like something else, usually a cheaper version.
n. a counterfeit or simulated object designed to resemble an original, often using less expensive materials.
“It looks like a real diamond, but it is actually just a clever imitation.”
“The museum warned collectors that several high-quality imitations of the Ming vase were circulating in the private market.”
Synonyms
03not real
adj. made to look like something else, especially a natural material.
adj. functioning as an attributive modifier to describe a material that simulates a more expensive or natural substance.
“She prefers to wear imitation leather because she does not use animal products.”
“The set designer used imitation marble for the pillars to keep the production costs within the strict theatrical budget.”
Usage
Always placed before the noun it modifies.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English imitacioun, from Middle French imitacion, from Old French imitacion, from Latin imitatio.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
The word in film
Poster: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Imitation of Life · 1959 · Romance
- Directed by:
- Douglas Sirk
- Starring:
- Lana Turner, Mahalia Jackson, Sandra Dee
Douglas Sirk directs this melodrama following the intertwined lives of an ambitious white actress and her devoted Black housekeeper whose light-skinned daughter attempts to pass as white. The title critiques the artificial personas and emotional facades people adopt, living a counterfeit copy instead of an authentic life.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/imitation