animation
noun
an·i·ma·tion
ˌa-nə-ˈmā-shən
plural animations
2
: a movie, scene, or sequence that simulates movement from a series of still frames (such as drawings, computer graphics, or photographs of inanimate objects moved incrementally)
His work often condenses stories of intricate subjects into brief looping animations.—Paul Tough
The work, titled Bigger Christmas Trees, was created on an iPad and features ten minutes of animation.—Julia Binswanger
And as the animation above shows, this tilt causes the Moon's shadow to miss the Earth.—Tom Yulsman
3
: the preparation of animation (as for animated cartoons, video games, commercials, etc.)
Cite this Entry
“Animation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animation. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.
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