joke Hear it!

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joke definition

joke (jōk)

noun

  1. anything said or done to arouse laughter; specif.,
    1. a funny anecdote with a punch line
    2. an amusing trick played on someone
  2. the humorous element in a situation
  3. a thing done or said merely in fun
  4. a person or thing to be laughed at, not to be taken seriously, because absurd, ridiculous, etc.

Etymology: L jocus, a joke, game < IE base *jek-, to speak > OHG jehan

intransitive verb joked, joking jok′·ing

  1. to tell or play jokes
  2. to say or do something as a joke; jest

Etymology: < jokethe or L jocari, to joke

transitive verb

  1. Now Rare to make fun of; make (a person) the object of jokes or teasing
  2. to bring to a specified condition by joking

Related Forms:

joke Idioms

no joke

a serious matter

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms joke idiom

joke Synonyms

joke

n.

  1. An action intended to be funny

    prank, buffoonery, game, sport, frolic, practical joke, gag, trick, hoax, revel, clowning, caper, caprice, mischief, escapade, stunt, fooling, foolery, tomfoolery, horseplay, pleasantry, fun, play, gambol, antic, lark, drollery, waggery, farce, mummery, monkeyshine*, shenanigan*, put-on*; see also sense 2; trick 1.

  2. Words intended to be funny

    jest, witticism, pun, play on words, quip, bon mot, one-liner, gag, anecdote, pleasantry, banter, drollery, jocularity, riposte, retort, conceit, repartee, give-and-take, rejoinder, sally, persiflage, mot, jeu d'esprit (French), chestnut, epigram, badinage, raillery, smart answer, punch line, jape, crack*, wisecrack*, funny*, shaggy dog story*, zinger*, rib-tickler*; see also sense 1.

  3. A ridiculous person or thing

    laughingstock, butt, mockery, figure of fun, farce, laugh, sham; see also fake, fool 2.


joke

v.

jest, quip, banter, tell jokes, raise laughter, play, sport, frolic, revel, play tricks, pun, poke fun, twit, trick, fool, fool around, clown around, make merry, play the fool, play the clown, be facetious, be waggish, kid*, josh*, crack jokes*, wisecrack*, pull someone's leg*, put someone on*, jive*, fun*; see also deceive, trifle 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

joke Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • crack: Most platoon officers were first class and well liked by the lads, even cracking jokes with us.

Adjective modifier

  • dirty: In the workplace men, and women now, are expected to laugh at dirty jokes, and even tell dirty jokes.

Noun used with modifier

  • mama: Knock knock jokes, your mama jokes, why did the chicken cross the road.
joke usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

joke quotes

   Housekeeping ain't no joke.

-Alcott, Louisa May

Every man who is high up loves to think that he has done it all himself; and the wife smiles, and lets it go at that. It's our only joke. Every woman knows that.

-Barrie, SirJ(ames) M(atthew)

A joke's a very serious thing.

-Churchill, Charles

joke quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"joke." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/joke>

APA Style

joke. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/joke

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