Imitate an operatic character with a tragic end (5)
I believe the answer is:
mimic
'imitate' is the definition.
(mimicking is a kind of imitating)
'operatic character with a tragic end' is the wordplay.
'operatic character' becomes 'mimi' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'end' says to take the final letters.
The final letter of 'tragic' is 'c'.
'mimi'+'c'='MIMIC'
'an' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mimic that I've seen before include "Person imitating another" , "Copy (voice, mannerisms)" , "Imitate in order to ridicule" , "Impersonator" , "Imitate, especially for satirical effect" .)