car·i·ca·ture
(kăŕĭ-kə-chŏŏŕ, -chər)
[French, from Italian caricatura, from caricare, to load, exaggerate, from Late Latin carricāre, from Latin carrus, a Gallic type of wagon.]
noun
- 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.
- The art of creating such representations.
- A grotesque imitation or misrepresentation: The trial was a caricature of justice.
transitive verb: -tured, -tur·ing, -tures.
- To represent or imitate in an exaggerated, distorted manner.
derivatives
- caŕi·ca·tuŕist
- 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.
