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a sketch or drawing, usually humorous, as in a newspaper or periodical, symbolizing, satirizing, or caricaturing some action, subject, or person of popular interest.
comic strip.
animated cartoon.
Fine Arts. a full-scale design for a picture, ornamental motif or pattern, or the like, to be transferred to a fresco, tapestry, etc.
resembling a cartoon or caricature:
The novel is full of predictable, cartoon characters, never believable as real people.
to represent by a cartoon.
to draw cartoons.
Contemporary Examples

What I love about cartooning is that I have access to two different kinds of communication.
Alison Bechdel: Genius to Watch Out For Tim Teeman September 17, 2014

Historical Examples

I didn’t suppose that basking in reflected glory made one a subject for cartooning; if it does, we’ll all pose together.
The Vision of Elijah Berl Frank Lewis Nason

With which Molly Brandeis unconsciously defined the art of cartooning.
Fanny Herself Edna Ferber

I don’t know if you and she ever spoke seriously of this little trick of drawing, or cartooning, or whatever it is you have.
Fanny Herself Edna Ferber

noun
a humorous or satirical drawing, esp one in a newspaper or magazine, concerning a topical event
Also called comic strip. a sequence of drawings in a newspaper, magazine, etc, relating a comic or adventurous situation
See animated cartoon
a full-size preparatory sketch for a fresco, tapestry, mosaic, etc, from which the final work is traced or copied
n.

1670s, “a drawing on strong paper (used as a model for another work),” from French carton, from Italian cartone “strong, heavy paper, pasteboard,” thus “preliminary sketches made by artists on such paper” (see carton). Extension to comical drawings in newspapers and magazines is 1843.

Punch has the benevolence to announce, that in an early number of his ensuing Volume he will astonish the Parliamentary Committee by the publication of several exquisite designs, to be called Punch’s Cartoons! [“Punch,” June 24, 1843]

Also see -oon.

v.

1864 (implied in cartooned), from cartoon (n.). Related: Cartooning.