animation
Animation (noun) means the technique of creating the illusion of movement from a sequence of still images, drawings, or models, or a work made this way. Example: “The studio spent three years on the animation for the movie.”
How to use animation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBringing still images to life as moving pictures — or, more generally, liveliness.
Word forms
animations plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The studio spent three years on the _____ for the movie.
Etymology
From Latin animatio, "a bringing to life," from animare ("to animate"), rooted in anima ("breath, soul").
Related words
Rhymes for animation
Frequently asked questions
What does “animation” mean?
The word “animation” means the technique of creating the illusion of movement from a sequence of still images, drawings, or models, or a work made this way. In plain terms, bringing still images to life as moving pictures — or, more generally, liveliness.
How do you pronounce “animation”?
“Animation” is pronounced an-ih-MAY-shuhn (/ˌæn.ɪˈmeɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “animation” in a sentence?
Here is “animation” used in a sentence: “The studio spent three years on the animation for the movie.”
What part of speech is “animation”?
“Animation” is a noun.
Where does the word “animation” come from?
The word “animation” comes from Latin. From Latin animatio, "a bringing to life," from animare ("to animate"), rooted in anima ("breath, soul").
Is “animation” a common word?
“Animation” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “animation” have?
“Animation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the technique of creating the illusion of movement from a sequence of still images, drawings, or models, or a work made this way.
What is the difference between "animation" and "cartoon"?
"Animation" is the technique of creating the illusion of movement from a sequence of still images, drawings, or models, or a work made this way. A "cartoon" is one style or type of animated or drawn content, often humorous, so animation is the broader process and a cartoon is one kind of result.
What are common collocations with the word "animation"?
In its visual sense, "animation" pairs with words like "computer animation," "stop-motion animation," "an animation studio," and "3D animation." In its liveliness sense, it appears in phrases such as "with animation" and "a face full of animation."