[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/imitation/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [I](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/i/) / imitation

# imitation

noun (imitation, imitations); adjective (imitation)

«imitation» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A copy of something, often a fake that looks like the real thing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/imitation/#m1)
2. Copying someone's voice or actions, often to be funny. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/imitation/#m2)
3. (adjective) Not real but made to look real: «imitation leather». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/imitation/#m3)

### In the lessons

In shops it means a cheaper copy: imitation gold, imitation fur. In drama and games it is copying someone's voice. The saying «Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery» means copying someone shows you admire them. Phrases: a cheap imitation, do an imitation of, imitation jewellery.

### Examples

- The ring is only an imitation; it isn't real gold. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/imitation/#x1)
- He does a great imitation of a chicken. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/imitation/#x2)
- Babies learn to talk by imitation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/imitation/#x3)
- The chair is covered in imitation leather. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/imitation/#x4)
- It was a poor imitation of the famous painting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/imitation/#x5)
- «Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,» said Gran. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/imitation/#x6)
- But they all with one voice shouted out that the Clown's imitation was much more true to life. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/imitation/#x7)

### Note

Verb: imitate. Opposite of an imitation: the real thing, the original, genuine. Countable for a copy; uncountable for the act of copying.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «imitation» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/imitation/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«imitation» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/imitation.html) on Mova free.