car·i·ca·ture (k r  -k -ch r , -chr)n.1. a. 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. b. The art of creating such representations. 2. A grotesque imitation or misrepresentation: The trial was a caricature of justice. tr.v. car·i·ca·tured, car·i·ca·tur·ing, car·i·ca·tures To represent or imitate in an exaggerated, distorted manner.
[French, from Italian caricatura, from caricare, to load, exaggerate, from Late Latin carric re, from Latin carrus, a Gallic type of wagon; see kers- in Indo-European roots.]
cari·ca·turist n. 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. |
caricature Noun 1. a drawing or description of a person which exaggerates characteristic features for comic effect 2. a description or explanation of something that is so exaggerated or over-simplified that it is difficult to take seriously: the classic caricature of the henpecked husband Verb [-turing, -tured] to make a caricature of [Italian caricatura a distortion]
caricaturea distorted representation, usually pictorial, often used to parody people in public life. — caricaturist, n. See also: Representation
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. |  caricature - a representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic effectparody, pasquinade, put-on, sendup, spoof, charade, lampoon, mockery, burlesque, travesty, takeoff - a composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's style, usually in a humorous way | | Verb | 1. | caricature - represent in or produce a caricature of; "The drawing caricatured the President"mock - imitate with mockery and derision; "The children mocked their handicapped classmate" |
caricature  Translations
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caricature [ˈkærɪkətjuəʳ] n → caricatura
caricature [ˈkærɪkətjuəʳ] n → caricature f
caricature [ˈkærɪkətjuəʳ] n → Karikatur f
caricature [ˈkærɪkətjuəʳ] n → caricatura
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