ENGLISH
REFERENCE

caricature

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈkɛɹəkətʃɝ// UK //kˈæɹɪkətʃˌɔː// car·i·ca·ture

n. a drawing or description of someone that makes their features look much bigger or stranger than they really are. It is often used to make fun of someone or to show their personality in a simple way.

n. a representation of a person or thing that exaggerates distinctive features for comic or grotesque effect. Often involves the distortion of physical characteristics to satirise the subject.


SIMPLE

The artist drew a funny caricature of the president with a huge nose.

CONTEXTUAL

The politician complained that the newspaper's caricature made him look like a greedy villain rather than a leader.

COMPLEX

While the biography aims for historical accuracy, the film adaptation settles for a crude caricature that ignores the subject's psychological depth in favour of easy laughs.

Synonyms
Origin

From French caricature, from Italian caricatura. Not related to character, which is instead ultimately from Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ (kharaktḗr, “type, nature, character”).

Usage

Commonly used with the verbs 'draw', 'create', or 'paint'.

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