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Definition of imitation noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

imitation

noun
 
/ˌɪmɪˈteɪʃn/
 
/ˌɪmɪˈteɪʃn/
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  1. [countable] a copy of something, especially something expensive
    • a poor/cheap imitation of the real thing
    • This latest production is a pale imitation of the original (= it is not nearly as good).
    • imitation leather/pearls
    Synonyms artificialartificialsynthetic false man-made fake imitationThese words all describe things that are not real, or not naturally produced or grown.artificial made or produced to copy something natural; not real:
    • artificial flowers
    • artificial light
    synthetic made by combining chemical substances rather than being produced naturally by plants or animals:
    • synthetic drugs
    • shoes with synthetic soles
    false not natural:
    • false teeth
    • a false beard
    man-made made by people; not natural:
    • man-made fibres such as nylon
    fake made to look like something else; not real:
    • a fake-fur jacket
    imitation [only before noun] made to look like something else; not real:
    • She would never wear imitation pearls.
    Patterns
    • artificial/​synthetic/​man-made fabrics/​fibres/​materials/​products
    • artificial/​synthetic/​fake/​imitation fur/​leather
    • artificial/​synthetic/​false/​fake/​imitation diamonds/​pearls
    Extra Examples
    • She would never wear imitation pearls.
    • Accept no cheap imitations of our product!
    • Many tourists cannot tell the difference between authentic Indian craftwork and imported imitations.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • accurate
    • good
    • passable
    See full entry
  2. [uncountable] the act of copying somebody/something
    • A child learns to talk by imitation.
    • in imitation of somebody/something Many corporate methods have been adopted by American managers in imitation of Japanese practice.
    • The poems, some in imitation of Ossian, are graceful if unremarkable.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • slavish
    • direct
    preposition
    • in imitation of
    See full entry
  3. [countable] an act of copying the way somebody talks and behaves, especially to make people laugh synonym impersonation, impression
    • He does an imitation of the prime minister.
    • She does a perfect imitation of a turkey.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • accurate
    • fair
    • good
    verb + imitation
    • do
    • give
    • perform
    See full entry
  4. Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin imitatio(n-), from the verb imitari; related to imago ‘image’.
See imitation in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee imitation in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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