Im″i‐ta‐tive (?), a. [L. imitavitus: cf. F. imitatif.] 1. Inclined to imitate, copy, or follow; imitating; exhibiting some of the qualities or characteristics of a pattern or model; dependent on example; not original; as, man is an imitative being; painting is an imitative art.
2. Formed after a model, pattern, or original.
This temple, less in form, with equal grace,
Was imitative of the first in Thrace. Dryden.
3. (Nat. Hist.) Designed to imitate another species of animal, or a plant, or inanimate object, for some useful purpose, such as protection from enemies; having resemblance to something else; as, imitative colors; imitative habits; dendritic and mammillary forms of minerals are imitative.
— Im″i‐ta‐tive‐ly, adv. — Im″i‐ta‐tive‐ness, n.