Definition of pantomime

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< pantograph

pantothenate >

pan·to·mime    (pnt-mm) KEY 

NOUN:

1. Communication by means of gesture and facial expression: Some tourists make themselves understood abroad by pantomime.
2. 1. The telling of a story without words, by means of bodily movements, gestures, and facial expressions.
   2. A play, dance, or other theatrical performance characterized by such wordless storytelling.
   3. An ancient Roman theatrical performance in which one actor played all the parts by means of gesture and movement, accompanied by a narrative chorus.
   4. A player in such a performance.
3. A traditional British Christmas entertainment for children, usually based on nursery tales and featuring stock characters in costume who sing, dance, and perform skits.

VERB:
pan·to·mimed, pan·to·mim·ing, pan·to·mimes
VERB:
tr.

To represent or express by pantomime: pantomine a story on the stage; pantomimed "baby" by cradling an imaginary infant.

VERB:
intr.

To express oneself in pantomime.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Latin pantommus, a pantomimic actor, from Greek pantommos : panto-, all (from ps, pant-; see pan-) + mmos, mime

OTHER FORMS:
panto·mimic  (-mmk) KEY (Adjective), panto·mimist  (-mmst) KEY (Noun)