noun
- 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.
- the art or process of producing such pictures, descriptions, etc.
- any imitation or copy so distorted or inferior as to be ludicrous.
verb (used with object), car·i·ca·tured, car·i·ca·tur·ing.
- to make a caricature of; represent in caricature.
noun
- a pictorial, written, or acted representation of a person, which exaggerates his characteristic traits for comic effect
- a ludicrously inadequate or inaccurate imitationhe is a caricature of a statesman
verb
- (tr) to represent in caricature or produce a caricature of
1748 (figurative), 1750 (literal), from French caricature (18c.), from Italian caricatura “satirical picture; an exaggeration,” literally “an overloading,” from caricare “to load, exaggerate,” from Vulgar Latin carricare “to load a car” (see charge (v.)). The Italian form had been used in English from 1680s and was common 18c.
1749, from caricature (n.). Related: Caricatured; caricaturing.
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.