Etymology From Latin mīmicus, from Ancient Greek μῑμικός (mīmikós, “belonging to mimes”), from μῖμος (mîmos, “imitator, actor”); see mime.
1
To imitate, especially in order to ridicule.
An artificial kidney these days still means a refrigerator-sized dialysis machine. Such devices mimic the way real kidneys cleanse blood and eject impurities and surplus water as urine.2013 June 1, “A better waterworks”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 5 (Technology Quarterly):
2
Biology, Natural sciences To take on the appearance of another, for protection or camouflage.
mimic
noun
Etymology From Latin mīmicus, from Ancient Greek μῑμικός (mīmikós, “belonging to mimes”), from μῖμος (mîmos, “imitator, actor”); see mime.
› A person who practices mimicry; especially:
1
A mime.
2
A comic who does impressions.
3
An entity that mimics another entity, such as a disease that resembles another disease in its signs and symptoms; see the great imitator.
4
An imitation.
Jess jumped slightly at hearing Tillyʼs extremely accurate mimic of her voice.2005, Helen Oyeyemi, The Icarus Girl, Bloomsbury, page 190:
5
Fantasy A fictional monster able to disguise itself as an inanimate object, commonly a treasure chest, often with the intent of luring adventurers into a trap.
Etymology From Latin mīmicus, from Ancient Greek μῑμικός (mīmikós, “belonging to mimes”), from μῖμος (mîmos, “imitator, actor”); see mime.
1
Pertaining to mimicry; imitative.
I think every man is cloied and wearied, with seeing so many apish and mimicke trickes, that juglers teach their Dogges, as the dances, where they misse not one cadence of the sounds or notes they heare[…].1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 12, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC:
Oft, in her absence, mimic fancy wakes / To imitate her.1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
1 more example
And there, with fingers interwoven, both hands Pressed closely palm to palm and to his mouth Uplifted, he, as through an instrument, Blew mimic hootings to the silent owls, That they might answer him.1800, William Wordsworth, There was a Boy:
2
Mock, pretended.
3
Chemistry, Geography, Geology, Mineralogy, Natural sciences, Physical sciences Imitative; characterized by resemblance to other forms; applied to crystals which by twinning resemble simple forms of a higher grade of symmetry.