cardboard

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   without substance

   cardboard caricatures of historical figures

2. 2
   noun

   Something flat or insubstantial.

   In my experience, one of the most vital times in the life of a piece of fiction is when a character begins to speak, timidly and softly, in one's head. Honest and true books get written when the author feels free to coax and invite that character in. If the author's response to that small voice is instead to submit it to a test: "Are you: black/white/gay/straight/male/female/Christian/Jewish/old/young/politically correct" the character will probably turn around and leave or else turn into cardboard.

3. 3
   adj

   Made of or resembling cardboard; (figurative) flat or flavorless.

   The worst of the thing, however, is that the enormity, such as it is, happens to be of a very cardboard and tinsel character.

4. 4
   noun

   a stiff moderately thick paper

5. 5
   noun

   A wood-based material resembling heavy paper, used in the manufacture of boxes, cartons and signs.

Etymology

From card + board.