adj.
Pronunciation: - ˌ m ā t
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: -mat · ed ; -mat · ing
Date: 15th century
1 : to give spirit and support to : ENCOURAGE
2 a : to give life to b : to give vigor and zest to
3 : to move to action <a criminal animated by greed>
4 a : to make or design in such a way as to create apparently spontaneous lifelike movement < animate a cartoon> b : to produce in the form of an animated cartoon < animate a story>
synonyms see QUICKEN