First Known Use: 1671
Dictionary
cartoon
noun, car·toon often attributive \kär-ˈtün\
: a drawing in a newspaper or magazine intended as a humorous comment on something
: a series of drawings that tell a story
: a film or television show made by photographing a series of drawings : an animated film or television show
Full Definition of CARTOON
1
: a preparatory design, drawing, or painting (as for a fresco)
2
a : a drawing intended as satire, caricature, or humor <a political cartoon> b : comic strip
3
4
: a ludicrously simplistic, unrealistic, or one-dimensional portrayal or version <the film's villain is an entertaining cartoon>
— cartoon verb
— car·toon·ing noun
— car·toon·ish \-ˈtü-nish\ adjective
— car·toon·ish·ly adverb
— car·toon·ist \-ˈtü-nist\ noun
— car·toon·like \-ˈtün-ˌlīk\ adjective
— car·toony \-ˈtü-nē\ adjective
See cartoon defined for English-language learners
See cartoon defined for kids
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Origin of CARTOON
Italian cartone pasteboard, cartoon, augmentative of carta leaf of paper — more at card
Related to CARTOON
- Synonyms
- drawing, delineation, sketch
CARTOON Defined for Kids
cartoon
noun car·toon \kär-ˈtün\
Definition of CARTOON for Kids
1
: a movie or television program made by photographing a series of drawings
2
: a drawing (as in a newspaper) making people or objects look funny or foolish
3
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