im ‧ i ‧ ta ‧ tion /ˌɪməˈteɪʃ ə n◂, ˌɪmɪˈteɪʃ ə n◂/ BrE AmE noun
1 . [uncountable and countable] when you copy someone else’s actions
by imitation
Many people think that children learn language by imitation.
The remake of ‘Casablanca’ was a pale imitation (=something that is much less good than the thing it imitates) of the original movie.
2 . [countable] when you copy the way someone speaks or behaves, especially in order to be funny SYN impression :
She acted, she danced, she did imitations.
imitation of
his imitation of an American accent
3 . [countable] a copy of something
imitation of
She wore an imitation of a sailor’s hat.
imitation fur/pearls/silk/leather etc (=something that looks like an expensive material but is a copy of it)
an imitation fur coat