/ mɪˈmiːsɪs; NAmE ; maɪˈm-/ noun [ U ]
1.
( technical ) the way in which the real world and human behaviour is represented in art or literature
2.
( technical ) the fact of a particular social group changing their behaviour by copying the behaviour of another social group
3.
( biology ) the fact of a plant or animal developing a similar appearance to another plant or animal.
4.
( medical ) the fact of a set of symptoms suggesting that sb has a particular disease, when in fact that person has a different disease or none
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from Greek mimēsis , from mimeisthai to imitate.