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caricatural

 - 3 dictionary results

car⋅i⋅ca⋅ture

[kar-i-kuh-cher, -choor] noun, verb, -tured, -tur⋅ing.
–noun
1. a picture, description, etc., ludicrously exaggerating the peculiarities or defects of persons or things: His caricature of the mayor in this morning's paper is the best he's ever drawn.
2. the art or process of producing such pictures, descriptions, etc.
3. any imitation or copy so distorted or inferior as to be ludicrous.
–verb (used with object)
4. to make a caricature of; represent in caricature.

Origin:
1740–50; earlier caricatura < It, equiv. to caricat(o) loaded, i.e., distorted (ptp. of caricare; see charge ) + -ura -ure


car⋅i⋅ca⋅tur⋅a⋅ble, adjective
car⋅i⋅ca⋅tur⋅al, adjective
car⋅i⋅ca⋅tur⋅ist, noun


1. cartoon. See burlesque. 3. travesty.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Cultural Dictionary

caricature

In art or literature, portrayal of an individual or thing that exaggerates and distorts prominent characteristics so as to make them appear ridiculous. Caricature is commonly a medium for satire.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

caricature 
1748, from Fr. caricature, from It. caricatura "satirical picture," lit. "an overloading," from caricare "to load, exaggerate," from V.L. carricare (see charge). The It. form had been used in Eng. from c.1682.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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