to behave in a similar way to someone or something else, or to copy the speech or behaviour, etc. of someone or something

Some of the younger pop bands try to imitate their musical heroes from the past. 一些较年轻的流行乐队极力模仿心目中昔日的音乐巨星。

They produce artificial chemicals which exactly imitate particular natural ones. 他们生产酷似某些天然物质的人造化学品。