mime

C2+ Topic:Communication

US /maɪm/ UK /maɪm/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
acting using gesture and movement without speech; to perform thus

The street performer mimed climbing an invisible ladder.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · acting using gesture and... mimic imitate gesture pantomime impersonate ape

Word family

Derived forms mimer

Related forms mimic mimicry pantomimemimesis

Simplified etymology

Mime entered English in the early 17th century and comes from the same imitative root as mimic and Greek pantomimos, “imitator of all.”

Etymology

From Latin mīmus, from Greek mîmos 'imitator, actor, mime', the ultimate origin of which is uncertain.

mîmos Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Communication Theater & Performance

External links

# mime

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /maɪm/
**IPA (UK):** /maɪm/

## Meanings
1. acting using gesture and movement without speech; to perform thus

## Examples
- The street performer mimed climbing an invisible ladder.

## Synonyms
- mimic
- imitate
- gesture
- pantomime
- impersonate
- ape

## Derived Forms
- mimer

## Related Forms
- mimic
- mimicry
- pantomime
- mimesis

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: mîmos

## Etymology
From Latin mīmus, from Greek mîmos 'imitator, actor, mime', the ultimate origin of which is uncertain.

## AI Etymology
Mime comes from Latin mīmus, from Greek mîmos 'imitator, actor, mime', the ultimate origin of which is uncertain. The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As a noun and verb, it carries the sense "acting using gesture and movement without speech; to perform thus", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Ancient Greek mîmos. Derivative forms include mimer; related words include mimic, mimicry, pantomime, mimesis.

## Topics
- Communication
- Theater & Performance

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