1 VERB If you imitate someone, you copy what they do or produce. □ [V n] …a genuine German musical which does not try to imitate the American model.
2 VERB If you imitate a person or animal, you copy the way they speak or behave, usually because you are trying to be funny. □ [V n] Clarence screws up his face and imitates the Colonel again.
imi|ta|tion / I m I te I ʃ ə n/ (imitations )
1 N‑COUNT An imitation of something is a copy of it. □ [+ of ] …the most accurate imitation of Chinese architecture in Europe.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Imitation means copying someone else's actions. □ [+ of ] They discussed important issues in imitation of their elders.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Imitation things are not genuine but are made to look as if they are. □ …a complete set of Dickens bound in imitation leather.
4 N‑COUNT If someone does an imitation of another person, they copy the way they speak or behave, sometimes in order to be funny. □ [+ of ] He gave his imitation of Queen Elizabeth's royal wave.
imi|ta|tive / I m I tət I v, [AM ] -te I t-/ ADJ People and animals who are imitative copy others' behaviour. □ Babies of eight to twelve months are generally highly imitative.
imi|ta|tor / I m I te I tə r / (imitators ) N‑COUNT An imitator is someone who copies what someone else does, or copies the way they speak or behave. □ He doesn't take chances; that's why he's survived and most of his imitators haven't. □ …a group of Elvis imitators.
im|macu|late / I mæ kjʊlət/
1 ADJ If you describe something as immaculate , you mean that it is extremely clean, tidy, or neat. □ Her front room was kept immaculate. ● im|macu|late|ly ADV □ As always he was immaculately dressed.
2 ADJ If you say that something is immaculate , you are emphasizing that it is perfect, without any mistakes or bad parts at all. [EMPHASIS ] □ The goalkeeper's performance was immaculate. ● im|macu|late|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The orchestra plays immaculately.
im|ma|nent / I mənənt/ ADJ If you say that a quality is immanent in a particular thing, you mean that the thing has that quality, and cannot exist or be imagined without it. [FORMAL ]
im|ma|teri|al / I mət I ə riəl/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you say that something is immaterial , you mean that it is not important or not relevant. □ Whether we like him or not is immaterial.
im|ma|ture / I mətjʊə r , [AM ] -tʊ r/
1 ADJ Something or someone that is immature is not yet completely grown or fully developed. □ She is emotionally immature. ● im|ma|tu|rity / I mətjʊə r I ti, [AM ] -tʊ r-/ N‑UNCOUNT □ In spite of some immaturity in the figure drawing and painting, it showed real imagination.
2 ADJ If you describe someone as immature , you are being critical of them because they do not behave in a sensible or responsible way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ She's just being childish and immature. ● im|ma|tu|rity N‑UNCOUNT □ …his immaturity and lack of social skills.
im|meas|ur|able / I me ʒərəb ə l/ ADJ If you describe something as immeasurable , you are emphasizing how great it is. [FORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ His contribution is immeasurable.
im|meas|ur|ably / I me ʒərəbli/ ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] You use immeasurably to emphasize the degree or extent of a process or quality. [FORMAL , EMPHASIS ] □ They have improved immeasurably since their arrival.
im|medi|acy / I miː diəsi/ N‑UNCOUNT The immediacy of an event or situation is the quality that it has which makes it seem important or exciting because it is happening at the present time. □ [+ of ] Do they understand the immediacy of the crisis?
im|medi|ate ◆◇◇ / I miː diət/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] An immediate result, action, or reaction happens or is done without any delay. □ These tragic incidents have had an immediate effect. □ My immediate reaction was just disgust.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Immediate needs and concerns exist at the present time and must be dealt with quickly. □ Relief agencies say the immediate problem is not a lack of food, but transportation.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] The immediate person or thing comes just before or just after another person or thing in a sequence. □ His immediate superior, General Geichenko, had singled him out for special mention.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] You use immediate to describe an area or position that is next to or very near a particular place or person. □ Only a handful had returned to work in the immediate vicinity.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] Your immediate family are the members of your family who are most closely related to you, for example your parents, children, brothers, and sisters.
im|medi|ate|ly ◆◆◇ / I miː diətli/
1 ADV [ADV with v] If something happens immediately , it happens without any delay. □ He immediately flung himself to the floor. □ Ingrid answered Peter's letter immediately.
2 ADV [ADV adj] If something is immediately obvious, it can be seen or understood without any delay. □ The cause of the accident was not immediately apparent.
3 ADV [ADV adj/-ed] Immediately is used to indicate that someone or something is closely and directly involved in a situation. □ The man immediately responsible for this misery is the province's governor.
4 ADV Immediately is used to emphasize that something comes next, or is next to something else. □ She always sits immediately behind the driver.
5 CONJ If one thing happens immediately something else happens, it happens after that event, without any delay. [mainly BRIT ] □ Immediately I've done it I feel completely disgusted with myself. SYNONYMS immediately ADV 1