animation

UK /ˌæn.ɪˈmeɪ.ʃən/ US /ˌæn.əˈmeɪ.ʃən/ Syllables: an-i-ma-tion

Pronunciation

Noun A1 Beginner Neutral

A technique for making a series of drawings or images appear to move, or lively, enthusiastic behavior.

Animation is a way of making drawings, models or computer images look as if they are moving. A film maker makes many pictures, each a little different, and plays them quickly one after another. Cartoons, computer games and many modern films use animation. The word also means lively, excited behavior: he spoke with great animation about his trip. An animator is a person who makes animations, and an animated film is another name for a cartoon.

"The studio spent two years on the animation for the film."

Meanings

A technique for making a series of drawings or images appear to move.
Lively, excited behavior.

Example sentences

"The children watched an animation about a small robot."

Level A2, Meaning 1
"She studies computer animation at college."

Level B1, Meaning 1
"He told the story with great animation."

Level C1, Meaning 2
"The animation took two years to finish."

Level B1, Meaning 1

Look-alikes and common mistakes

cartoon : A cartoon is a drawing or a film made from drawings. Animation is the method that makes them move.
movie : A movie is any film. Animation is a type of film made from moving drawings or models.

Word family and forms

Forms: animations

animate animated animator animal

Word partners

Words and phrases that often go with "animation".

computer animation
an animation studio
an animated film
speak with animation
stop motion animation
an animation class

Origin

Animation came into English in the 1590s from Latin animatio, a giving of life, by way of French. It comes from the verb animate, to give life to, and the ending -ion. The sense of moving pictures appeared in the early 1900s.

Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.

How to remember it

Animation has anima, the Latin word for life or breath. Animation gives pictures a kind of life.

Test yourself

Which word fits the gap? "The children watched an _____ about a small robot."

Answer: animation

In your own words, what does "animation" mean?