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noun

any fluid or juice of an animal or plant; esp., any of the four fluids () formerly considered responsible for one's health and disposition; blood, phlegm, choler, or melancholy
1. a person's disposition or temperament
2. a mood; state of mind
whim; fancy; caprice
the quality that makes something seem funny, amusing, or ludicrous; comicality
1. the ability to perceive, appreciate, or express what is funny, amusing, or ludicrous
2. the expression of this in speech, writing, or action
any fluid or fluidlike substance of the body; blood, lymph, bile, etc.: the aqueous humor

transitive verb

to comply with the mood or whim of (another); indulge
to act in agreement with the nature of; adapt oneself to

Related Forms:

humorless adjective

See humor in American Heritage Dictionary 4

(hyo͞oˈmər)

noun

The quality that makes something laughable or amusing; funniness: could not see the humor of the situation.
That which is intended to induce laughter or amusement: a writer skilled at crafting humor.
The ability to perceive, enjoy, or express what is amusing, comical, incongruous, or absurd. See Synonyms at wit¹.
One of the four fluids of the body, blood, phlegm, choler, and black bile, whose relative proportions were thought in ancient and medieval physiology to determine a person's disposition and general health.
Physiology
a. A body fluid, such as blood, lymph, or bile.
b. Aqueous humor.
c. Vitreous humor.
A person's characteristic disposition or temperament: a boy of sullen humor.
An often temporary state of mind; a mood: I'm in no humor to argue.
a. A sudden, unanticipated whim. See Synonyms at mood¹.
b. Capricious or peculiar behavior.

transitive verb hu·mored, hu·mor·ing, hu·mors

To comply with the wishes or ideas of; indulge.
To adapt or accommodate oneself to. See Synonyms at pamper.

See humor in Ologies

Humor

See also laughter; punning

a concise witticism or well-turned phrase. —Atticist, n.

buffoonism

1. a tendency to amuse others by tricks, jokes, unusual gestures, and strange gestures.

2. a tendency toward coarse joking. Also buffoonery. —buffoon, n. —buffoonish, adj.

1. amusing or witty writings and remarks.

2. coarsely witty stories or books. —facetious, adj.

1. the habit of joking or jesting.

2. a joke or a jest.

3. the state or quality of humorousness or playfulness. —jocose, adj.

mordancy, mordacity

the condition or quality of being biting or caustic, as humor, speech, etc. See also speech. —mordant, adj.

nugae

trifles or trivia, especially light verses or sayings.

the habit of dealing with serious matters in a spirit of good and sometimes cynical good humor. [Allusion to Rabelais’ satirical novels Gargantua (1534) and Pantagruel (1532), especially to the behavior of Pantagruel, Gargantua’s huge son.] —Pantagruelian, adj.

pianologue

a humorous performance at the piano, sometimes with a verbal accompaniment by the performer.

1. a person who imitates or is an enthusiast for the works of Francois Rabelais.

2. a person given to coarse, satirical humor, like that of Rabelais. —Rabelaisian, adj.

Rabelaism

the personality or character of Rabelais, as in the use of coarse, satirical humor. Also Rabelaisianism.

reparteeist

a person skilled in the exchange of witticisms.

coarse, vulgar, or obscene language or joking. —ribald, adj.

1. a writer of satire.

2. a person who uses satire or makes satirical comments.

Learn more about humor

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» humor Culture

» humor medical definition

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» humor science

» humor sentence examples

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