noun
pantomime
PAN-tuh-muh-ihm
noun
1
The act of telling a story or communicating through gesture and expression alone, without speaking.
"The mime performed an entire pantomime of getting stuck in an invisible box."
2
A British Christmas theatrical show for families, featuring comedy, music, and audience participation.
"Every December, the local theatre puts on a pantomime for the whole family."
verb
1
To act something out using only gestures, without speaking.
"She pantomimed drinking a cup of tea to explain what she wanted."
How to Use Pantomime
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSilent storytelling through gesture, or (in the UK) a festive family stage show.
UK vs US
The "Christmas show" sense is a distinctly British tradition, often shortened to "panto."
Word Forms
pantomimed past tense, pantomimes plural, pantomimes singular
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The mime performed an entire _____ of getting stuck in an invisible box.
Etymology
From Latin pantomimus, from Greek pantómimos ("imitator of all"), from pas ("all") + mimeomai ("to mimic").