¹caricature

noun car·i·ca·ture \ˈker-i-kə-ˌchu̇r, -ˌchər, -ˌtyu̇r, -ˌtu̇r, -ˈka-ri-\

: a drawing that makes someone look funny or foolish because some part of the person's appearance is exaggerated

: someone or something that is very exaggerated in a funny or foolish way

Full Definition of CARICATURE

: exaggeration by means of often ludicrous distortion of parts or characteristics

: a representation especially in literature or art that has the qualities of caricature

: a distortion so gross as to seem like caricature

— car·i·ca·tur·al \ˌker-i-kə-ˈchu̇r-əl, -ˈchər-, -ˈtyu̇r-, -ˈtu̇r-, -ˌka-ri-\ adjective

— car·i·ca·tur·ist \ˈker-i-kə-ˌchu̇r-ist, -ˌchər-, -ˌtyu̇r-, -ˌtu̇r-, -ˈka-ri-\ noun

See caricature defined for English-language learners

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Origin of CARICATURE

Italian caricatura, literally, act of loading, from caricare to load, from Late Latin carricare

First Known Use: 1712

Related to CARICATURE

Synonyms: mockery, cartoon, farce, joke, parody, sham, travesty

Antonyms: meiosis, understatement

Synonym Discussion of CARICATURE

caricature, burlesque, parody, travesty mean a comic or grotesque imitation. caricature implies ludicrous exaggeration of the characteristic features of a subject <caricatures of politicians in cartoons>. burlesque implies mockery especially through giving a serious or lofty subject a frivolous treatment <a nightclub burlesque of a trial in court>. parody applies especially to treatment of a trivial or ludicrous subject in the exactly imitated style of a well-known author or work <a witty parody of a popular novel>. travesty implies that the subject remains unchanged but that the style is extravagant or absurd <this production is a travesty of the opera>.