What does mimic mean?
Word: Mimic
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Mimic means to copy the way someone or something sounds, moves or looks.
How do you spell mimic?
Syllables: mim - ic
Tricky part: The word ends in a plain c, but it gains a k before ed or ing. Without that k, the c would sound like an s.
Watch out for: mimick, mimik, mimiced, mimicing
Memory tip: Keep the k for action: the moment ed or ing turns up, the k kicks in.
Mimic in a sentence
Example 1: My little sister can mimic the sound of a pressure cooker perfectly.
Example 2: Some robots are built to mimic the way humans walk.
Example 3: The comedian mimicked three cricket commentators and had us all laughing.
Fun Fact
The lyrebird of Australia is a champion mimic. It copies dozens of other birds and has even been recorded imitating camera shutters and car alarms.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
m_m_c
a) a, i
b) i, e
c) e, i
d) i, i
Show answer
d) i, i. The same short vowel appears in both gaps.
Mingle-Mangle
Rearrange the jumbled letters in the sentence to form the right word:
Our drama teacher can cimmi the voice of almost any film star.
a) magic
b) music
c) comic
d) mimic
Show answer
d) mimic. The jumble holds two m's, and only one option has two.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word mimic as used in the sentence:
Young children often mimic the way their parents speak.
a) correct
b) ignore
c) admire
d) imitate
Show answer
d) imitate. The children are doing the same thing their parents do, sound for sound.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose what it means.
1. camoflage 2. ventriliquist 3. mimic 4. chamelion
a) to behave or sound exactly like another
b) a performer who makes a puppet seem to talk
c) to hide something by making it match its surroundings
d) a lizard that can change its colour
Show answer
a) to behave or sound exactly like another. Camouflage needs a u after the o, chameleon takes an e before on, and ventriloquist has an o before the qu.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Aarav mimics his coach in the school play. What does the audience see?
a) Aarav asking the coach for some advice
b) Aarav speaking and walking as the coach does
c) Aarav taking over the coach's job
d) Aarav thanking the coach for his help
Show answer
b) Aarav speaking and walking as the coach does
2. Some harmless hoverflies mimic wasps. How does this help them?
a) they can fly much further than wasps
b) birds leave them alone, fearing a sting
c) they stay warm through the winter
d) they find flowers more quickly
Show answer
b) birds leave them alone, fearing a sting
