/ ˈpæntəmaɪm; NAmE / noun
1.
(also BrE informal panto ) [ C , U ] (in Britain) a type of play with music, dancing and jokes, that is based on a fairy tale and is usually performed at Christmas
2.
[ U , C , usually sing. ] the use of movement and the expression of your face to communicate sth or to tell a story
SYN mime
3.
[ C , usually sing. ] ( BrE ) a ridiculous situation, usually with a lot of confusion
SYN farce
For more information see the Cultural Guide
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 16th cent. (first used in the Latin form and denoting an actor using mime): from French pantomime or Latin pantomimus , from Greek pantomimos imitator of all (from panto- all, universal and mime ).