imitative
AdjectiveOpen English WordNet
Adjective (3)
- marked by or given to imitation“acting is an imitative art”“man is an imitative being”Opposite nonimitativeSimilar parrotlike, mimic, mimetic, simulated, apish
- (of words) formed in imitation of a natural sound“onomatopoeic words are imitative of noises”“it was independently developed in more than one place as an onomatopoetic term — Harry Hoijer”Synonyms: echoiconomatopoeiconomatopoeicalonomatopoetic
- not genuine; imitating something superior“counterfeit emotion”“counterfeit money”“counterfeit works of art”“a counterfeit prince”Synonyms: counterfeitSimilar bogus, pseudo, assumed, mock, inauthentic, synthetic, pinchbeck, ostensible +2 moreSee also artificial, unreal, insincere, false
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: L. imitavitus: cf. F. imitatif.
1. Inclined to imitate, copy, or follow; imitating; exhibiting some of the qualities or characteristics of a pattern or model; dependent on example; not original; as, man is an imitative being; painting is an imitative art.
2. Formed after a model, pattern, or original.
This temple, less in form, with equal grace, Was imitative of the first in Thrace.— John Dryden
3. Nat. Hist. Designed to imitate another species of animal, or a plant, or inanimate object, for some useful purpose, such as protection from enemies; having resemblance to something else; as, imitative colors; imitative habits; dendritic and mammillary forms of minerals are imitative.
— Im′wb-a1′>′i·ta·tive·ly, adverb — Im′wb-a1′>′i·ta·tive·ness, noun
Grammar A verb expressive of imitation or resemblance. rare
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54