imitate

Everyday

1. To copy the way someone speaks, moves or behaves. tree →
2. To make something look or sound like something else. tree →
3. To follow someone as an example: «imitate your heroes». tree →

In the lessons

In school, young children learn by imitating adults; in music and drama pupils imitate sounds. In nature some animals imitate others to stay safe (mimicry). In church life Christians try to imitate Jesus. Phrases: imitate a voice, imitate a sound, try to imitate.

Examples

• Parrots can imitate human voices. tree →
• My brother imitates the teacher's voice to make us laugh. tree →
• Young children imitate what they see adults do. tree →
• Some harmless flies imitate wasps to scare off birds. tree →
• The clarinet imitates the cuckoo in this piece of music. tree →
• Christians try to imitate Jesus in kindness. tree →
• "How should I?" I replied, resolved to imitate the princess in her fidelity. tree →

Note

Noun: imitation, imitator. Similar: copy, mimic. Imitating to mock someone can be unkind.