Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Imitation \Im"i*ta"tion\, n. [L. imitatio: cf. F. imitation.]
   1. The act of imitating.

            Poesy is an art of imitation, . . . that is to say,
            a representing, counterfeiting, or figuring forth.
                                                  --Sir P.
                                                  Sidney.

   2. That which is made or produced as a copy; that which is
      made to resemble something else, whether for laudable or
      for fraudulent purposes; likeness; resemblance.

            Both these arts are not only true imitations of
            nature, but of the best nature.       --Dryden.

   3. (Mus.) One of the principal means of securing unity and
      consistency in polyphonic composition; the repetition of
      essentially the same melodic theme, phrase, or motive, on
      different degrees of pitch, by one or more of the other
      parts of voises. Cf. {Canon}.

   4. (Biol.) The act of condition of imitating another species
      of animal, or a plant, or unanimate object. See {Imitate},
      v. t., 3.

   Note: Imitation is often used adjectively to characterize
         things which have a deceptive appearance, simulating
         the qualities of a superior article; -- opposed to
         {real} or {genuine}; as, imitation lace; imitation
         bronze; imitation modesty, etc.

Source : WordNet®

imitation
     adj : not genuine or real; being an imitation of the genuine
           article; "it isn't fake anything; it's real synthetic
           fur"; "faux pearls"; "false teeth"; "decorated with
           imitation palm leaves"; "a purse of simulated alligator
           hide" [syn: {fake}, {false}, {faux}, {simulated}]

imitation
     n 1: the doctrine that representations of nature or human
          behavior should be accurate imitations [ant: {formalism}]
     2: a copy that is represented as the original [syn: {counterfeit},
         {forgery}]
     3: copying (or trying to copy) the actions of someone else
     4: a representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic
        effect [syn: {caricature}, {impersonation}]