/ ˌænɪˈmeɪʃn; NAmE / noun
1.
[ U ] energy and enthusiasm in the way you look, behave or speak :
His face was drained of all colour and animation.
—see also suspended animation
2.
[ U ] the process of making films / movies, videos and computer games in which drawings or models of people and animals seem to move :
computer / cartoon animation
3.
[ C ] a film / movie in which drawings of people and animals seem to move :
The electronic dictionary included some animations.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (in the sense encouragement): from Latin animatio(n-) , from animare instil with life, from anima life, soul. Sense 1 dates from the early 19th cent.