Library / English Dictionary

MIME

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A performance using gestures and body movements without words

Synonyms:

dumb show; mime; pantomime

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("mime" is a kind of...):

acting; performing; playacting; playing (the performance of a part or role in a drama)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mime"):

panto (an abbreviation of pantomime)

Derivation:

mime (act out without words but with gestures and bodily movements only)

mimic (constituting an imitation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An actor who communicates entirely by gesture and facial expression

Synonyms:

mime; mimer; mummer; pantomimer; pantomimist

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("mime" is a kind of...):

actor; histrion; player; role player; thespian (a theatrical performer)

Instance hyponyms:

Marceau; Marcel Marceau (French mime famous for his sad-faced clown (born in 1923))

Derivation:

mime (imitate (a person or manner), especially for satirical effect)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Act out without words but with gestures and bodily movements only

Example:

The acting students mimed eating an apple

Synonyms:

mime; pantomime

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "mime" is one way to...):

act; play; playact; roleplay (perform on a stage or theater)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

mime (a performance using gestures and body movements without words)

mimer (an actor who communicates entirely by gesture and facial expression)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Imitate (a person or manner), especially for satirical effect

Example:

The actor mimicked the President very accurately

Synonyms:

mime; mimic

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "mime" is one way to...):

copy; imitate; simulate (reproduce someone's behavior or looks)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

mime (an actor who communicates entirely by gesture and facial expression)

Credits