definitions

animation

[ an-uh-mey-shuhn ]
/ ˌæn əˈmeɪ ʃən /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR animation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

animated quality; liveliness; vivacity; spirit: to talk with animation.
an act or instance of animating or enlivening.
the state or condition of being animated.
Graphic Arts
  1. a dynamic visual medium produced from static drawings, models, or objects posed in a series of incremental movements that are then rapidly sequenced to give the illusion of lifelike motion.
  2. the process of preparing such animation, as for films, cartoons, video games, etc.
  3. a product of such animation, as a film or cartoon.

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RELATED WORDS

energy, bounce, vim, dash, gaiety, zing, brio, buoyancy, zap, zip, elation, pep, sparkle, passion, fervor, enthusiasm, vigor, life, sprightliness, zest

Nearby words

animated, animated cartoon, animated oat, animately, animatic, animation, animatism, animato, animator, animatronic, animatronics

Origin of animation

1590–1600; 1910–15 for def 4; (< Middle French) < Latin animātiōn- (stem of animātiō a bestowing of life). See animate, -ion
Related formsin·ter·an·i·ma·tion, nounnon·an·i·ma·tion, nouno·ver·an·i·ma·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for animation

British Dictionary definitions for animation

animation

/ (ˌænɪˈmeɪʃən) /

noun

liveliness; vivacity
the condition of being alive
  1. the techniques used in the production of animated cartoons
  2. a variant of animated cartoon
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for animation

animation

n.

1590s, "action of imparting life," from Latin animationem (nominative animatio) "an animating," noun of action from past participle stem of animare (see animate (v.)). Meaning "vitality" is from 1610s. Cinematographic sense is from 1912.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for animation

animation

[ ăn′ə-mā′shən ]

n.

The state of being alive.
Liveliness; high spirits.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.