imitative

/ˈɪmɪtətɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɪmɪteɪtɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈi-mə-ˌtā-tiv especially British -tə-tiv/ (ame, mw)

imitative — adjective

  • imitativepositive
  • more imitativecomparative
  • most imitativesuperlative

1. showing a tendency to copy another person's actions, style, or work instead of d

1.形容詞C1
釋義

showing a tendency to copy another person's actions, style, or work instead of developing a clearly independent one.

例句

Esme's imitative dance moves copied the singer on the stage too closely.

imitative + performance noun describing copied style

Kofi wrote an imitative school play that sounded too much like superhero films.

imitative + creative work in a critical comment

同義詞
  • mimicking

    focuses more on directly copying a visible action or sound

  • derivative

    more critical, especially for art or writing lacking originality

  • copycat

    informal and usually used for a person, not a style

反義詞
  • original

    describes work or behaviour that is fresh rather than copied

文法句型

imitative of + person/style/work

imitative + noun (style, gesture, behaviour)

用法筆記

Often used for art, writing, gestures, or child behaviour. Distinguish it from sense 3: this sense only says something copies a model, not that it is fake or meant to deceive.

常見錯誤

❌Her imitative answer copied the teacher.
✅Her imitative style copied the teacher.
💡use it for behaviour, style, or work, not for a single spoken answer.
❌The painting is imitative leather.
✅The painting is imitative of early French posters.
💡sense 1 takes a copied model or style, not a material name.

2. describing a word or sound-form that was created to echo a natural noise, such a

2.形容詞C2
釋義

describing a word or sound-form that was created to echo a natural noise, such as an animal cry, a crash, or a hiss.

例句

The teacher called 'buzz' an imitative word in the spelling lesson.

imitative word meaning a sound-copying form

Salma circled the imitative word 'clang' under the picture of falling pans.

imitative + quoted word tied to a pictured sound

同義詞
  • onomatopoeic

    the technical term in linguistics for sound-copying words

  • echoic

    formal and mostly used in linguistic description

文法句型

imitative + word/sound/name

imitative of + natural sound

用法筆記

Mainly appears in discussions of language, poetry, or sound effects. It overlaps with 'onomatopoeic', but 'imitative' is broader and more old-fashioned in tone.

常見錯誤

❌The cat was imitative when it meowed.
✅The word "meow" is imitative.
💡this sense describes a sound-copying word or form, not the animal making the sound.
❌Her imitative accent was loud.
✅Her accent had an imitative "rattle" in the play.
💡this sense is about sound-shaped wording, not loudness.

3. made to resemble a better or more valuable thing, so that it looks similar to th

3.形容詞C2
釋義

made to resemble a better or more valuable thing, so that it looks similar to the real one without actually being genuine.

例句

The hotel lobby used imitative marble panels instead of real stone.

imitative + material noun for a cheaper substitute

Isabela chose imitative pearls for the school play's costume box.

imitative + jewellery item meaning not genuine

同義詞
  • fake

    the everyday word for something not genuine

  • imitation

    common in labels like imitation leather or imitation pearls

  • counterfeit

    stronger and more connected to fraud or illegal sale

反義詞
  • genuine

    used when the material or object is real

  • authentic

    common for valuable original materials or artefacts

文法句型

imitative + material/object

imitative of + luxury material

用法筆記

Usually describes materials or objects sold as cheaper copies of luxury ones, such as marble, ivory, leather, or pearls. Unlike sense 1, the emphasis is on not being genuine.

常見錯誤

❌His imitative joke fooled the class.
✅His imitative leather wallet fooled the class.
💡this sense is for copied materials or objects, not for humour.
❌The curtains were imitative of rain.
✅The curtains were imitative silk.
💡sense 3 usually names the better material being copied.