Imitative

Imitative
Imitative Im"i*ta*tive, a. [L. imitavitus: cf. F. imitatif.] 1. Inclined to imitate, copy, or follow; imitating; exhibiting some of the qualities or characteristics of a pattern or model; dependent on example; not original; as, man is an imitative being; painting is an imitative art. [1913 Webster]

2. Formed after a model, pattern, or original. [1913 Webster]

This temple, less in form, with equal grace, Was imitative of the first in Thrace. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

3. (Nat. Hist.) Designed to imitate another species of animal, or a plant, or inanimate object, for some useful purpose, such as protection from enemies; having resemblance to something else; as, imitative colors; imitative habits; dendritic and mammillary forms of minerals are imitative. -- {Im"i*ta*tive*ly}, adv. -- {Im"i*ta*tive*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Imitative — Im i*ta*tive, n. (Gram.) A verb expressive of imitation or resemblance. [R.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • imitative — index artificial, derivative, imitation Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • imitative — (adj.) 1580s, probably from IMITATE (Cf. imitate) + IVE (Cf. ive); or else from M.Fr. imitatif, from L.L. imitativus, from imitat , stem of imitari …   Etymology dictionary

  • imitative — [adj] simulated, unoriginal artful, copied, copycat, copying, counterfeit, deceptive, derivative, echoic, emulative, emulous, following, forged, mimetic, mimic, mimicking, mock, onomatopoeic, parrot*, plagiarized, pseudo*, put on*, reflecting,… …   New thesaurus

  • imitative — ► ADJECTIVE 1) following a model. 2) (of a word) reproducing a natural sound (e.g. fizz) or pronounced in a way thought to correspond to the appearance or character of the object or action described (e.g. blob). DERIVATIVES imitatively adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • imitative — [im′i tāt΄iv; ] also [, im′i tə tiv΄] adj. [LL imitativus] 1. formed from a model; reproducing the qualities of an original or another 2. given to imitating; inclined to imitate others 3. not genuine or real; imitation 4. approximating in sound… …   English World dictionary

  • imitative — adjective Date: 1584 1. a. marked by imitation < acting is an imitative art > b. reproducing or representing a natural sound ; onomatopoeic < “hiss” is an imitative word > c. exhibiting mimicry 2. inclined to imitate 3. imitating something super …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • imitative — [[t]ɪ̱mɪtətɪv, AM teɪt [/t]] ADJ GRADED People and animals who are imitative copy others behaviour. Babies of eight to twelve months are generally highly imitative …   English dictionary

  • imitative — adjective 1) imitative crime Syn: similar, like, mimicking; informal copycat 2) I found the film empty and imitative Syn: derivative, unoriginal, unimaginative, uninspired, uninventive, plagiarized, plagiaristic …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • imitative — ● imitatif, imitative adjectif (bas latin imitativus) Qui imite le comportement, la mimique, les goûts d autrui : Le pouvoir imitatif de l enfant …   Encyclopédie Universelle

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