animation
an-ih-MAY-shuhn
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: “My little brother loves watching an animation about a talking train every evening.”
noun
1
The technique of creating the illusion of movement from a sequence of still images, drawings, or models, or a work made this way.
"My little brother loves watching an animation about a talking train every evening."
"The studio spent three years on the animation for the movie."
"Stop-motion animation uses physical models photographed frame by frame."
2
Liveliness, energy, or enthusiasm in speech or manner.
"The children chatted with great animation about their trip to the zoo."
"He described the plan with real animation in his voice."
"Her animation lit up the whole room."
How to use animation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBringing still images to life as moving pictures — or, more generally, liveliness.
Common pairings
2D animation
computer animation
full of animation
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Word forms
- Plural
- animations
Fill the gap
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My little brother loves watching an _____ about a talking train every evening.
Etymology
From Latin animatio, "a bringing to life," from animare ("to animate"), rooted in anima ("breath, soul").
Synonyms
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liveliness
vivacity
energy
spiritedness
exuberance
cartoon
life
vitality
brio
aliveness
invigoration
living
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for animation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all 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."
