Imitate

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: im=i=tate

CIDE DICTIONARY

Imitate, v. t. [L. imitatus, p. p. of imitari to imitate; of unknown origin. Cf. Image.].

•  To follow as a pattern, model, or example; to copy or strive to copy, in acts, manners etc.  [1913 Webster]

  "Despise wealth and imitate a dog."  [1913 Webster]
•  To produce a semblance or likeness of, in form, character, color, qualities, conduct, manners, and the like; to counterfeit; to copy.  [1913 Webster]

  "A place picked out by choice of best alive
  The Nature's work by art can imitate."  [1913 Webster]

  "This hand appeared a shining sword to weild,
  And that sustained an imitated shield."  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Imitate, 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.

Derivative

imitable adj. imitator n.

Etymology

L imitari imitat-, rel. to imago IMAGE

THESAURUS

Imitate

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

ROGET THESAURUS

Imitate

Similarity

VB be similar, look like, resemble, bear resemblance, smack of, savor of, approximate, parallel, match, rhyme with, take after, imitate, favor, span, render similar, assimilate, approximate, bring near, connaturalize, make alike, rhyme, pun.

Imitation

VB imitate, copy, mirror, reflect, reproduce, repeat, do like, echo, reecho, catch, transcribe, match, parallel, mock, take off, mimic, ape, simulate, impersonate, personate, act, represent, counterfeit, parody, travesty, caricature, lampoon, burlesque, follow in the steps of, tread in the steps, follow in the footsteps of, follow in the wake of, take pattern by, follow suit, follow the example of, walk in the shoes of, take a leaf out of another's book, strike in with, follow suit, take after, model after, emulate.

Borrowing

VB borrow, desume, hire, rent, farm, take a lease, take a demise, take by the hour, take by the mile, take by the year, hire by the hour, hire by the mile, hire by the year, adopt, apply, appropriate, imitate, make use of, take, raise money, take up money, raise the wind, fly a kite, borrow from Peter to pay Paul, run into debt, replevy.