Definition of pantomime Pantomime

/pæˈntʌmajˌm/ - [pantumaym] - pan•to•mime

We found 13 definitions of pantomime from 6 different sources.

What does pantomime mean?

Noun
pantomime - a performance using gestures and body movements without words
		mime, dumb show
		acting, performing, playacting, playing the performance of a part or role in a drama
Verb
pantomime - act out without words but with gestures and bodily movements only; "The acting students mimed eating an apple"
		mime
		playact, roleplay, act, play behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself; "You should act like an adult"; "Don't behave like a fool"; "What makes her do this way?"; "The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people"

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pantomime (n.)
A universal mimic; an actor who assumes many parts; also, any actor.
pantomime (n.)
One who acts his part by gesticulation or dumb show only, without speaking; a pantomimist.
pantomime (n.)
A dramatic representation by actors who use only dumb show; hence, dumb show, generally.
pantomime (n.)
A dramatic and spectacular entertainment of which dumb acting as well as burlesque dialogue, music, and dancing by Clown, Harlequin, etc., are features.
pantomime (a.)
Representing only in mute actions; pantomimic; as, a pantomime dance.

pantomime
pan′tō-mīm, n. one who expresses his meaning by action without speaking: a play or an entertainment in dumb show: an entertainment in a theatre, usually about Christmas-time, in which some well-known story is acted, amidst showy scenery, with music and dancing, concluding with buffoonery by conventional characters—the clown, pantaloon, harlequin, and columbine.—adj. representing only by action without words.—adjs. Pantomim′ic, -al.—adv. Pantomim′ically.—n. Pan′tomimist, an actor in a pantomime. [Fr.,—L.—Gr. pantomimos, imitator of all—pas, pantos, all, mimos, an imitator.]

Pantomime (often called panto) is a kind of theatre entertainment usually performed around Christmas and the New Year in Britain and a few other English-speaking countries. It must not be confused with mime (acting with gestures but no speech).

History.

A "pantomimos" in Ancient Greece used to be an entertainment performed by a solo dancer. In the Middle Ages a form of theatre developed called Commedia dell'arte. This was similar to a pantomime. They told a story which had certain fixed characters: the lovers, the father, the servants etc.

The Pantomime first arrived in England as a short entertainment (entr'acte) between opera pieces. Eventually it became a separate show.