imitationim‧i‧ta‧tion /ˌɪmɪˈteɪʃən◂/ ●●○ noun 
Many people think that children learn language by imitation. The remake of ‘Casablanca’ was a pale imitation (=something that is much less good than the thing it imitates) of the original movie.2[countable] when you copy the way someone speaks or behaves, especially in order to be funny SYN impression: She acted, she danced, she did imitations.imitation of his imitation of an American accent3[countable] a copy of somethingimitation of She wore an imitation of a sailor’s hat.imitation fur/pearls/silk/leather etc (=something that looks like an expensive material but is a copy of it) an imitation fur coat► see thesaurus at artificial, false
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Children learn through imitation.
- The necklace was a cheap imitation, but she was obviously very proud of it.
- A white imitation of black grief.
- An earthen mound forms an even more direct imitation.
- But this imitation of well-established exemplars is another mark of the psychotic rather than the genuine mystic.
- Everything else is a cheap imitation.
- Nor was the dambusters plus aeroplane imitations one performed, or the runway for ice.
- Rival troupes gave so many imitations that its inventor was forgotten.
- These forms of imitation are not surprising.
- Three generations of imitation so doggedly faithful that it defied credibility.
THESAURUS
not real or natural, but made to look or work like something real or natural: · artificial flowers· He was given an artificial heart.
made using chemical processes rather than by natural processes: · synthetic fabrics· a synthetic version of the drug
made by people – used especially about geographical features and materials: · a man-made lake· man-made fibres
made to look or seem like something else, especially in order to deceive people: · a fake passport· fake fur
made to look like something, but not real – used especially about guns, jewellery, and leather: · imitation firearms· imitation pearls
artificial – used especially about teeth, eyelashes, and beards: · a set of false teeth
not real, but made to look, sound, or feel real, especially by means of special computers or machines: · a simulated space flight
made, done, seen etc on a computer, rather than in the real world: · a virtual tour of the garden
not real, but intended to seem real and deceive people: · He uses a false name.
made to look or seem like something else, especially something worth a lot more money: · fake fur· a fake Rolex watch· fake designer goods· a fake $100 bill
a forged official document or bank note has been illegally made to look like a real one: · a forged passport· a forged £50 note
counterfeit money or goods have been illegally made to look exactly like something else: · How do you detect counterfeit currency?· counterfeit drugs
made to look real – used especially about guns, bombs etc or about materials: · The two men used an imitation firearm to carry out the robbery.· imitation leather/silk/silver
disapproving informal false – used when you think someone is deliberately trying to deceive people: · She put on a phoney New York accent.· The doctors were accused of supplying phoney medical certificates.· There’s something phoney about him.· phony advertisements
false and giving a wrong impression about someone or something: · spurious claims· That’s a spurious argument.· The company was trying to get some spurious respectability by using our name.
Longman Language Activatormade to look real or natural not real or natural, but made to look real or do the job of something real: · On the table was a vase filled with artificial flowers.· We have one of those electric heaters with artificial logs.· It took Frank a while to learn to walk with the artificial leg.
not real - use this about teeth, nails, beards etc: · Nearly a third of adults in the UK have false teeth.· She was heavily made up, with false eyelashes and bright red lipstick.
: fake fur/jewellery/antiques etc (=made to seem like real fur, jewellery etc, especially in order to make people think it is more valuable than it really is) · Her coat had a fake fur collar and cuffs.· You can buy fake Gucci bags all over the city.
use this about materials that look like something valuable, but are actually made of something less expensive: · Ted was wearing an imitation leather jacket. · The dark blue sweater had imitation pearls sewn across the front.
not real, but made to look, feel etc like a real thing, situation, or feeling: · It was one of those horrible simulated-leather 'executive' chairs.· Models of the bridge have been tested under simulated earthquake conditions.
to copy someone or something to make people laugh to copy what someone says or does, in order to make people laugh: · She's really good at imitating our teacher's Scottish accent.
to copy the way someone famous moves, talks etc, in order to make people laugh: · He made her laugh hysterically during their walks, with his impression of Gene Kelly doing "Singin' in the Rain.''
to unkindly copy the way someone talks or moves in order to make people laugh: · "Hmm," Phil said. "Hmm," Graham mimicked.· Yolanda mimicked their father opening the letter.
also a take-off on somebody/something American informal a copy of the way someone moves or talks, or of the style of a movie, book, etc that is done to make people laugh: · A local television reporter dubbed him StyroCop - a take-off on the movie "RoboCop'' .do a take-off of/on somebody: · Karen can do a hilarious take-off of Bette Davis.
something that has been copied from something else something that has been copied and made to look exactly like something else: · I don't have my original birth certificate. Will you accept a copy?copy of: · Connie left copies of the document on everybody's desk.· a 19th century copy of the popular Rembrandt painting
also copy a copy of a piece of paper or a picture that has been made using a machine: · Please send a photocopy of your passport.make a copy: · Can you make seven copies of this, please?
an exact copy of something that can be used in the same way, especially when the original one has been lost: · I only have one house key, but I'll have a duplicate made for when you visit.
a small copy of a building, vehicle, or machine, made to look exactly like the original building, vehicle etc: model of: · White's team made a model of the new ballpark to show the public.model ship/airplane etc: · There was a shelf in his bedroom full of model planes.scale model (=a model with the same size and distance relationships as the real thing): · The 1957 photo shows him holding a scale model of an ocean liner he built entirely by hand.
a copy of a well-known vehicle, building, or weapon, especially one that is the same size as the original: · a replica fire truck from the 1920sreplica of: · A replica of the space shuttle is parked at the center's entrance.· The building is an exact replica of the original Globe theatre.
a copy of an old or valuable work of art or piece of furniture: · The store sells a range of reproduction furniture in Colonial style.reproduction of: · a reproduction of a beautiful Ming vase
imitation jewellery, furniture, fur etc are copies of expensive things that are made of cheaper material so that they look similar but cost much less: · an imitation sheepskin seat cover · The original woodframe house had been covered with imitation brick siding.
an exact copy of an old or valuable document or piece of writing, that is done on the same kind of paper or material it was originally written or printed on: · A facsimile of the 1896 book was published in February.
a copy of computer information that you save on a separate disk, so that if something goes wrong with your computer, you will still have the information: · Make sure to make backup copies of all your data.· Don't store the backups near the computer, where someone could easily steal them both.
an animal or plant that is an exact copy of another one, and is produced by taking a cell from another plant or animal and developing it artificially: · These plants are all clones of the same original plant.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The remake of ‘Casablanca’ was a pale imitation (=something that is much less good than the thing it imitates) of the original movie. She acted, she danced, she did imitations. a cheap imitation of the real thing a pair of gloves trimmed with fake furCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
The remake of ‘Casablanca’ was a pale imitation (=something that is much less good than the thing it imitates) of the original movie. She acted, she danced, she did imitations. (=something that looks like an expensive material but is a copy of it) an imitation fur coat
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES an imitation fur coat a cheap imitation of the real thing a pair of gloves trimmed with fake fur· As we hadn't bought our wedding rings, we had to make do with cheap imitations from the hospital gift shop.· Everything else is a cheap imitation.· But how easy is it to spot a cheap imitation?· Kendall tried to topple Harrison with a cheap imitation of the original Watch.· Thank goodness wine makers worldwide accept this fact and cheap, poor imitations are becoming a thing of the past.· What was wrong was cheap imitation.
· One of London's best imitations of a Parisian bistro.· Here, they do a good imitation of being partners.· Nevertheless, as time wore on he found himself doing a good imitation of a man preparing to go out.
· But this time round, they're pathetic, pale imitations of the planet destroyers that went before.· It had been a pale imitation.· These, however, are but a pale imitation of the History file.· To its critics, it became a mild tabloid and a very pale imitation of what was originally intended.· These programs are still only a pale imitation of the original human operators, however.
VERB· As we hadn't bought our wedding rings, we had to make do with cheap imitations from the hospital gift shop.· Here, they do a good imitation of being partners.· Rosie screwed her face up and did an imitation of Lila that made me laugh.· He strangled on his own tears and did a close imitation of dying.· Wits on the Salomon trading floor did imitations of Mortara.· Williams has undeniable energy, and does dead-on imitations of the Cowardly Lion, Jiminy Cricket and other pop icons.· He did a remarkably accurate imitation of the soft, low drag of a rapidly disappearing device.· He did imitations of different accents-Navaho, black, New York.
· While doing this he gave a wonderful imitation of his coal merchant and his wife.· Rival troupes gave so many imitations that its inventor was forgotten.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[countable, uncountable] when you copy someone else’s actionsby imitation- But this time round, they're pathetic, pale imitations of the planet destroyers that went before.
- It had been a pale imitation.
- These programs are still only a pale imitation of the original human operators, however.
- These, however, are but a pale imitation of the History file.
- To its critics, it became a mild tabloid and a very pale imitation of what was originally intended.
Many people think that children learn language by imitation. The remake of ‘Casablanca’ was a pale imitation (=something that is much less good than the thing it imitates) of the original movie.2[countable] when you copy the way someone speaks or behaves, especially in order to be funny SYN impression: She acted, she danced, she did imitations.imitation of his imitation of an American accent3[countable] a copy of somethingimitation of She wore an imitation of a sailor’s hat.imitation fur/pearls/silk/leather etc (=something that looks like an expensive material but is a copy of it) an imitation fur coat► see thesaurus at artificial, false