cartoon

American  

[kahr-toon] / kɑrˈtun /

noun

1. a sketch or drawing, usually humorous, as in a newspaper or periodical, symbolizing, satirizing, or caricaturing some action, subject, or person of popular interest.

2. comic strip.

3. animated cartoon.

4. Fine Arts. a full-scale design for a picture, ornamental motif or pattern, or the like, to be transferred to a fresco, tapestry, etc.

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adjective

1. resembling a cartoon or caricature.

   The novel is full of predictable, cartoon characters, never believable as real people.

verb (used with object)

1. to represent by a cartoon.

verb (used without object)

1. to draw cartoons.

cartoon British  

/ kɑːˈtuːn /

noun

1. a humorous or satirical drawing, esp one in a newspaper or magazine, concerning a topical event

2. Also called: comic strip.  a sequence of drawings in a newspaper, magazine, etc, relating a comic or adventurous situation

3. See animated cartoon

4. a full-size preparatory sketch for a fresco, tapestry, mosaic, etc, from which the final work is traced or copied

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Other Word Forms

• cartoonish adjective
• cartoonist noun
• uncartooned adjective

Etymology

Origin of cartoon

First recorded in 1665–75; from Italian cartone “pasteboard, stout paper, a drawing on such paper,” equivalent to cart(a) “paper” ( carte ) + -one augmentative suffix

Example Sentences

In South Korea, a playful green cartoon dinosaur named Dooly, known for the two small tufts of hair on his head, has been a favorite for generations.

From Science Daily

"We realized the cartoon models in textbooks were missing a huge piece," Jim said.

From Science Daily

“It’s like we’re all little bugs uniting our voices, becoming a big, giant cartoon fist.”

From Los Angeles Times

The discount airline Ryanair, meanwhile, simply posted a cartoon photo of one of its planes with a face.

From The Wall Street Journal

Why couldn’t the complexity have been the dialogue from the beginning, instead of the play-dumb cartoon “The AI Doc” feels like for so long?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• animation
• caricature
• comic strip
• drawing
• parody
• satire
• sketch