# cartoon

/kɑɹˈtun/ (US) · /kɑːtˈuːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cartoon
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. animated film

noun · CEFR A2

a film or television show made of moving drawings rather than real people.

For teachers: an animated production, typically intended for entertainment, created using a series of drawings or computer-generated imagery.

- The children wake up early on Saturday mornings to watch their favourite cartoons.
- While often dismissed as children's entertainment, modern cartoons frequently employ sophisticated narrative structures and social commentary to appeal to adult audiences.

### 2. humorous drawing

noun · CEFR B1

a funny drawing in a newspaper or magazine, often about politics or daily life.

For teachers: a single drawing or series of drawings, often accompanied by a caption, intended to be humorous or satirical.

- There was a funny cartoon in the newspaper today about the weather.
- The political cartoon in the Sunday edition used sharp satire to critique the government's latest economic policy.

### 3. art template

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a full-size drawing used as a plan for a large piece of art like a painting on a wall.

For teachers: a full-scale preparatory drawing used as a template for a fresco, mosaic, or tapestry.

- The museum displayed the original cartoon used to create the famous tapestry.
- Art historians analysed the charcoal cartoon to understand how the Renaissance master originally planned the composition of the cathedral's fresco.

### 4. to draw humorously

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal

to draw someone or something in a funny or exaggerated way.

For teachers: to represent a subject in the style of a cartoon, often involving exaggeration or caricature.

- The artist spent the afternoon cartooning the tourists at the park.
- The illustrator was hired to cartoon the executive board for the company's annual light-hearted internal newsletter.

Usage: The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- The children watch a cartoon every Saturday morning.
- The political cartoon in the morning paper used a giant elephant to represent the government's slow response.
- While early animation was often dismissed as simple entertainment for children, the modern cartoon has evolved into a sophisticated medium for social satire and complex storytelling.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.