pantomime — A theatrical entertainment in which performers express meaning through gestures without words
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A theatrical entertainment in which performers express meaning through gestures without words
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈpæntəmaɪm/
Example Sentences
- The mime got stuck in an invisible box during his pantomime performance, and the audience couldn't tell if it was part of the act!
- She had to pantomime 'elephant' in charades, so she swung her arm like a trunk.
- The teacher used pantomime to explain new vocabulary when the students didn't understand English.
pantomime
NOUN[/ˈpæntəmaɪm/]
A theatrical entertainment in which performers express meaning through gestures without words

Silent performance using only gestures

Pantomime breaks the paradigm, even working overtime!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Greek 'pantomimos', a compound of 'panto' (all, everything) and 'mimos' (mime, imitator). Originally referring to an actor who performed all types of roles through gesture and imitation, the term evolved in Roman and later European theatre to denote a performer who communicates entirely through body movement and facial expression without speech.
Breakdown
panto- (all, everything) + -mimos (mime, imitator, actor). The Greek roots combine to literally mean 'one who imitates everything'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The mime got stuck in an invisible box during his pantomime performance, and the audience couldn't tell if it was part of the act!”
“She had to pantomime 'elephant' in charades, so she swung her arm like a trunk.”
“The teacher used pantomime to explain new vocabulary when the students didn't understand English.”
“His pantomime of a person walking against strong wind was so realistic that people started looking for the storm!”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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