Cartoon definition

ar·toon [kahr-toon] Show IPA

—noun

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

resembling a cartoon or caricature: The novel is full of predictable, cartoon characters, never believable as real people.
—verb (used with object)

to represent by a cartoon.
—verb (used without object)

to draw cartoons.
Origin: 1665–75; < Italian cartone pasteboard, stout paper, a drawing on such paper, equivalent to cart(a) paper (see carte) + -one augmentative suffix

—Related forms
car·toon·ish, adjective
car·toon·ist, noun
un·car·tooned, adjective

Can be confused: 1. burlesque, caricature, cartoon, parody, satire (see synonym study at burlesque)(see synonym study at satire) ; 2. carton,