---
title: mimicry — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mimicry» in the school dictionary: Mimicry is copying the way someone talks, moves or behaves, often to make people laugh. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mimicry/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [M](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/) / mimicry

# mimicry

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Mimicry, someone, people, living thing, harmless hoverfly, stripes · **What happens:** copy, talk, move, behave, make, laugh · **To what, where:** way, people, thing, others, example, car alarm

<!-- .vabout -->
«mimicry» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [mimicry in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mimicry.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mimicry is copying the way someone talks, moves or behaves, often to make people laugh.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mimicry:m1:1
# text = Mimicry is copying the way someone talks, moves or behaves, often to make people laugh.
1	Mimicry	mimicry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	copying	copy	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nsubj	_	_
7	talks	talk	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	moves	move	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	behaves	behave	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
13	often	often	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
14	to	to	PART	TO	_	15	mark	_	_
15	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	11	advcl	_	_
16	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	obj	_	_
17	laugh	laugh	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	15	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **copy** | present · progressive | Mimicry | the way |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent way=Theme |
| 2 | **talk** | present | someone | the way *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn compel-59.1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent way=Patient |
| 3 | **move** | present | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |
| 4 | **behave** | present | someone *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn masquerade-29.6-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Agent |
| 5 | **make** | to-infinitive | someone *not said here* | people |  |  |  | often *property* | tree rules |
| 6 | **laugh** | infinitive | people *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn nonverbal\_expression-40.2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: science — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mimicry is when a living thing looks or sounds like another thing to protect itself or to trick others, like a harmless hoverfly that looks like a wasp.

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mimicry:m2:1
# text = Mimicry is when a living thing looks or sounds like another thing to protect itself or to trick others, like a harmless hoverfly that looks like a wasp.
1	Mimicry	mimicry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	living	living	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	advcl:relcl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
10	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	det	_	_
12	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	protect	protect	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	advcl	_	_
15	itself	itself	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs|Reflex=Yes	14	obj	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	trick	trick	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	conj	_	_
19	others	other	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	24	punct	_	_
21	like	like	ADP	IN	_	24	case	_	_
22	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	24	det	_	_
23	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	24	amod	_	_
24	hoverfly	hoverfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	18	obl	_	_
25	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	26	nsubj	_	_
26	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	24	acl:relcl	_	_
27	like	like	ADP	IN	_	29	case	_	_
28	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	29	det	_	_
29	wasp	wasp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	26	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Mimicry |  |  |  |  | when *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **look** | present | a living thing |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 3 | **sound** | present | a living thing *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like another thing | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |
| 4 | **protect** | to-infinitive | a living thing *not said here* | thing |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent itself=Beneficiary |
| 5 | **trick** | to-infinitive | a living thing *not said here* | others |  |  |  | like a harmless hoverfly | vn trick-59.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent other=Patient |
| 6 | **look** | present | a harmless hoverfly |  |  |  |  | like a wasp | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The hoverfly's stripes are an example of mimicry.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mimicry:x1:1
# text = The hoverfly's stripes are an example of mimicry.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	hoverfly	hoverfly	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	stripes	stripe	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
5	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	example	example	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	mimicry	mimicry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | the hoverfly's stripes | a example |  |  |  | of mimicry | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Parrots are famous for their mimicry of human speech.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mimicry:x2:1
# text = Parrots are famous for their mimicry of human speech.
1	Parrots	parrot	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
2	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
4	for	for	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	mimicry	mimicry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	human	human	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	speech	speech	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | Parrots |  |  |  |  | for Parrots's mimicry of human speech; famous *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lyrebird's mimicry can copy a car alarm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mimicry:x3:1
# text = The lyrebird's mimicry can copy a car alarm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lyrebird	lyrebird	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	mimicry	mimicry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	copy	copy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	car	car	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	alarm	alarm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **copy** | can | the lyrebird's mimicry | a car alarm |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent alarm=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His mimicry of the head teacher made the class giggle.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mimicry:x4:1
# text = His mimicry of the head teacher made the class giggle.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	mimicry	mimicry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	head	head	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	_
7	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	giggle	giggle	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | His mimicry of the head teacher | the class giggle |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset giggle=Product |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Mimicry helps harmless animals look dangerous.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mimicry:x5:1
# text = Mimicry helps harmless animals look dangerous.
1	Mimicry	mimicry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	helps	help	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	harmless	harmless	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	animals	animal	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	look	look	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
6	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **help** | present | Mimicry |  |  |  |  |  | vn help-72.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Theme |
| 2 | **look** | present | harmless animals |  |  |  |  | dangerous *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some orchids use mimicry to look like bees.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mimicry:x6:1
# text = Some orchids use mimicry to look like bees.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	orchids	orchid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	mimicry	mimicry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	advcl	_	_
7	like	like	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	bees	bee	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | some orchids | mimicry |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mimicry=Patient |
| 2 | **look** | to-infinitive | some orchids *not said here* |  |  |  |  | like bees | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [mimic](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mimic/)
- next →: [mimosa](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mimosa/)
- ↑ back to [M in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/)