cartoon

[ kahr-toon ]

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.

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

/ kɑːˈtuːn /

noun

1. a humorous or satirical drawing, esp one in a newspaper or magazine, concerning a topical event
2. Also calledcomic strip a sequence of drawings in a newspaper, magazine, etc, relating a comic or adventurous situation
3. See animated cartoon
   See animated cartoon
4. a full-size preparatory sketch for a fresco, tapestry, mosaic, etc, from which the final work is traced or copied

Derived Forms

• carˈtoonist, noun

Other Words From

• car·toonish adjective
• car·toonist noun
• uncar·tooned adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cartoon¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cartoon¹

C17: from Italian cartone pasteboard, sketch on stiff paper; see carton

Example Sentences

The term gerrymandering comes from an 1812 political cartoon that rendered it in essentially aesthetic terms.

From Vox

In the legendary Fox cartoon’s first season in 1989, the average episode was exactly 23 minutes long.

From Quartz

When it comes to fitting in, Mikko was proud to be on 17th Street, and proud to show off his new outdoor dining tables, again with the Nordic colors and depictions of classic Finnish cartoon characters.

From Washington Blade

In the meantime, you could, like County Supervisor Jim Desmond, just shoot cartoon versions of the virus with your gun.

From Voice of San Diego

When I was in elementary school, there were only three channels — and lots of cartoons.

From Science News For Students

But along with the cartoon funk is an all-too-real story of police brutality embodied by a horde of evil Pigs.

From The Daily Beast

Editorial and political cartoon pages from throughout the world almost unanimously came to the same conclusion.

From The Daily Beast

The first two videos are teasers featuring two favorite cartoon characters for young girls, Dora the Explorer and Tinkerbell.

From The Daily Beast

As it turns out, though, cartoon curmudgeons get the best, most ridiculous lines.

From The Daily Beast

You know the cartoon segment that used to be in colour in rancid old newspapers?

From The Daily Beast

As to technique, Schwind was a child of the cartoon era; as regards tenderness of feeling, he is a modern.

From Project Gutenberg

Moreover, Gros did not content himself with the scanty palette and the miserable cartoon-draughtsmanship of his contemporaries.

From Project Gutenberg

The exceptions are in the books printed explanations, not in any cartoon.

From Project Gutenberg

It is therefore highly significant that Mr. Raemaekers has in this cartoon conceived the devil primarily as a kind of ogre.

From Project Gutenberg

The cartoon in which the Prussian is depicted as saying to his bound and gagged victim, "Ain't I a lovable fellow?"

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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