caricature - Dictionary definition and pronunciation

car·i·ca·ture

-k

-ch

, -ch

r) KEY

NOUN:

1. A representation, especially pictorial or literary, in which the subject's distinctive features or peculiarities are deliberately exaggerated to produce a comic or grotesque effect.
2. The art of creating such representations.
A grotesque imitation or misrepresentation: The trial was a caricature of justice.

TRANSITIVE VERB:
car·i·ca·tured , car·i·ca·tur·ing , car·i·ca·tures

To represent or imitate in an exaggerated, distorted manner.

ETYMOLOGY:
French, from Italian caricatura, from caricare, to load, exaggerate, from Late Latin carricre, from Latin carrus, a Gallic type of wagon; see kers- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
cari·ca·turist (Noun)

SYNONYMS:
caricature , burlesque , parody , travesty , satire , lampoon

These nouns denote artistic forms in which someone or something is imitated in an amusing and generally critical manner. A caricature grossly exaggerates a distinctive or striking feature with intent to ridicule: drew a caricature of the politician. Burlesque, which usually denotes a dramatic work, suggests outlandish mimicry and broad comedy to provoke laughter: a burlesque playing at the theater. Parody, travesty, and satire generally apply to written works. Parody employs the manner and style of a well-known work or writer for a ludicrous effect: wrote a parody of the famous novel. A travesty is a harshly distorted imitation: a travesty of morality. Satire usually involves ridiculing follies and vices: employs satire in her poetry. A lampoon is a malicious but broadly humorous satire: a lampoon authored by a standup comic.

WORD HISTORY:
The history of the word caricature takes us back through the centuries to a time when the Romans occupied Gaul, offering the blessings of civilization to the Gauls but also borrowing from them as well. One such borrowing, the Gaulish word *karros, meaning "a wagon or cart," became Latin carrus, "a Gallic type of wagon." This Latin word has continued to roll through the English language, giving us car, career, cargo, carry, and charge, among others. Caricature, another offspring of carrus, came to us via French from Italian, in which caricatura, the source of the French word, was derived from Italian caricare, "to load, burden, or exaggerate." Caricare in turn came from Late Latin carricre, "to load," derived from the Romans' Gaulish borrowing carrus.

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Definition of caricature