mime

[ mahym, meem ]

noun

1. the art or technique of portraying a character, mood, idea, or narration by gestures and bodily movements; pantomime.
2. an actor who specializes in this art.
3. an ancient Greek or Roman farce that depended for effect largely upon ludicrous actions and gestures.
4. a player in such a farce.
5. mimic ( def 4 ).
6. a jester, clown, or comedian.

verb (used with object)

, mimed, mim·ing.

1. to mimic.
2. to act in mime.

verb (used without object)

, mimed, mim·ing.

1. to play a part by mime or mimicry.

MIME

¹

abbreviation for

1. multipurpose internet mail extensions

mime

²

/ maɪm /

noun

1. the theatrical technique of expressing an idea or mood or portraying a character entirely by gesture and bodily movement without the use of words
2. Also calledmime artist a performer specializing in such a technique, esp a comic actor
3. a dramatic presentation using such a technique
4. in the classical theatre
   1. a comic performance depending for effect largely on exaggerated gesture and physical action
   2. an actor in such a performance

verb

1. to express (an idea) in actions or gestures without speech
2. (of singers or musicians) to perform as if singing (a song) or playing (a piece of music) that is actually prerecorded

Derived Forms

• ˈmimer, noun

Other Words From

• mimer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mime¹

1610–20; < Latin mīmus < Greek mîmos imitator, mime, akin to mīmeîsthai to copy, imitate

Word History and Origins

Origin of mime¹

Old English mīma, from Latin mīmus mimic actor, from Greek mimos imitator

Example Sentences

He rates a podcaster below “movies, TV, recording artist, radio personality, mime and organ grinder monkey.”

From Los Angeles Times

He has no voice, just the toothy grin of a mime long past his mild mischief days.

From Los Angeles Times

Earlier this year, a principal at a San Gabriel elementary school made headlines after allegedly using her fingers to mime holding a gun and pretending to shoot kids, telling them, “Boom. You’re dead.”

From Los Angeles Times

Its developer used one intimacy co-ordinator to look after performers voicing intimate scenes, while another looked after those who were also miming actions to be digitised into the game.

From BBC

A flower seller, asked about the tourist trade, irritably mimed how some outsiders would manhandle his delicate blooms — brilliant purple irises and Van Gogh-worthy sunflowers — and then walk away without buying anything.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• comedian