Definitions for mimicry
ˈmɪm ɪk rimimic·ry

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

1. apery, mimicrynoun

   the act of mimicking; imitative behavior

2. mimicrynoun

   the resemblance of an animal species to another species or to natural objects; provides concealment and protection from predators

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. mimicrynoun

   the act or ability to simulate the appearance of someone or something else

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Mimicry

   In evolutionary biology, mimicry is an evolved resemblance between an organism and another object, often an organism of another species. Mimicry may evolve between different species, or between individuals of the same species. Often, mimicry functions to protect a species from predators, making it an anti-predator adaptation. Mimicry evolves if a receiver (such as a predator) perceives the similarity between a mimic (the organism that has a resemblance) and a model (the organism it resembles) and as a result changes its behaviour in a way that provides a selective advantage to the mimic. The resemblances that evolve in mimicry can be visual, acoustic, chemical, tactile, or electric, or combinations of these sensory modalities. Mimicry may be to the advantage of both organisms that share a resemblance, in which case it is a form of mutualism; or mimicry can be to the detriment of one, making it parasitic or competitive. The evolutionary convergence between groups is driven by the selective action of a signal-receiver or dupe. Birds, for example, use sight to identify palatable insects and butterflies, whilst avoiding the noxious ones. Over time, palatable insects may evolve to resemble noxious ones, making them mimics and the noxious ones models. In the case of mutualism, sometimes both groups are referred to as "co-mimics". It is often thought that models must be more abundant than mimics, but this is not so. Mimicry may involve numerous species; many harmless species such as hoverflies are Batesian mimics of strongly defended species such as wasps, while many such well-defended species form Müllerian mimicry rings, all resembling each other. Mimicry between prey species and their predators often involves three or more species.In its broadest definition, mimicry can include non-living models. The specific terms masquerade and mimesis are sometimes used when the models are inanimate. For example, animals such as flower mantises, planthoppers, comma and geometer moth caterpillars resemble twigs, bark, leaves, bird droppings or flowers. Many animals bear eyespots, which are hypothesized to resemble the eyes of larger animals. They may not resemble any specific organism's eyes, and whether or not animals respond to them as eyes is also unclear. Nonetheless, eyespots are the subject of a rich contemporary literature. The model is usually another species, except in automimicry, where members of the species mimic other members, or other parts of their own bodies, and in inter-sexual mimicry, where members of one sex mimic members of the other. Mimicry can result in an evolutionary arms race if mimicry negatively affects the model, and the model can evolve a different appearance from the mimic.p161 Mimicry should not be confused with other forms of convergent evolution that occurs when species come to resemble each other by adapting to similar lifestyles that have nothing to do with a common signal receiver. Mimics may have different models for different life cycle stages, or they may be polymorphic, with different individuals imitating different models, such as in Heliconius butterflies. Models themselves may have more than one mimic, though frequency dependent selection favours mimicry where models outnumber mimics. Models tend to be relatively closely related organisms, but mimicry of vastly different species is also known. Most known mimics are insects, though many other examples including vertebrates are also known. Plants and fungi may also be mimics, though less research has been carried out in this area.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. mimicry

   Mimicry is the act of copying or imitating someone or something, often with the intention to deceive or mock. In biology, it refers to the resemblance of one organism to another or to an object in its surroundings, primarily for the purpose of protection or survival.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:2.3 / 3 votes

1. Mimicrynoun

   the act or practice of one who mimics; ludicrous imitation for sport or ridicule

2. Mimicrynoun

   protective resemblance; the resemblance which certain animals and plants exhibit to other animals and plants or to the natural objects among which they live, -- a characteristic which serves as their chief means of protection against enemies; imitation; mimesis; mimetism

EntomologyRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Mimicry

   strictly, the resemblance of one animal to another not closely related animal, living in the same locality; often loosely used to denote also resemblance to plants and inanimate objects: Batesian mimicry is where one of two similar species is distasteful (so-called model), the other not distasteful (so-called mimic); Müllerian mimicry is where both species are distasteful.

Matched Categories

1. • Imitation
   • Impersonation

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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How to pronounce mimicry?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

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   Mark

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   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

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   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

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   Indian

   Priya

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   Neerja

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   Zira

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   Oliver

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   Wendy

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   Fred

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   Tessa

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How to say mimicry in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of mimicry in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of mimicry in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of mimicry in a Sentence

1. Juan Guerrero:

   The genius of the attacker in the Carbanak case is taking the time to learn directly from the victim and thus bypass fraud prevention measures through sheer mimicry.

2. Oscar Wilde:

   Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=mimicry
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Mimicry
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimicry
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mimicry
6. ^ Entomology
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/22748/22748-h/22748-h.htm#:~:text=mimicry
7. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=mimicry