joke
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joke
(jōk)n.
1. Something said or done to evoke laughter or amusement, especially an amusing story with a punch line.
2. A mischievous trick; a prank: played a joke on his roommate.
3. Something that is of ludicrously poor quality: Their delivery service is a joke.
4. Informal
a. Something not to be taken seriously; a triviality: The accident was no joke.
b. An object of amusement or laughter; a laughingstock: His loud tie was the joke of the office.
v. joked, jok·ing, jokes
v.intr.
1. To tell or play jokes; jest.
2. To speak in fun; be facetious: You have to be joking.
v.tr.
To say or write as a joke.
jok′ing·ly adv.
Synonyms: joke, witticism, quip, crack, wisecrack, gag
These nouns refer to something that is said or done in order to evoke laughter or amusement. Joke especially denotes an amusing story with a punch line at the end: She told jokes at the party. A witticism is a witty, usually cleverly phrased remark: "He said one should treat heavy things lightly and light things with gravity, which became a handy witticism" (Natalie Dykstra).
A quip is a clever, pointed, often sarcastic remark: He responded to the tough questions with quips. Crack and wisecrack refer less formally to flippant or sarcastic retorts: She made a crack about my driving ability; he was punished for making wisecracks in class. Gag is principally applicable to a broadly comic remark or to comic byplay in a theatrical routine: It was one of the most memorable gags in the history of vaudeville.
These nouns refer to something that is said or done in order to evoke laughter or amusement. Joke especially denotes an amusing story with a punch line at the end: She told jokes at the party. A witticism is a witty, usually cleverly phrased remark: "He said one should treat heavy things lightly and light things with gravity, which became a handy witticism" (Natalie Dykstra).
A quip is a clever, pointed, often sarcastic remark: He responded to the tough questions with quips. Crack and wisecrack refer less formally to flippant or sarcastic retorts: She made a crack about my driving ability; he was punished for making wisecracks in class. Gag is principally applicable to a broadly comic remark or to comic byplay in a theatrical routine: It was one of the most memorable gags in the history of vaudeville.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
joke
(dʒəʊk)n
1. a humorous anecdote
2. something that is said or done for fun; prank
3. a ridiculous or humorous circumstance
4. a person or thing inspiring ridicule or amusement; butt
5. a matter to be joked about or ignored
6. joking apart seriously: said to recall a discussion to seriousness after there has been joking
7. no joke something very serious
vb
8. (intr) to tell jokes
9. (intr) to speak or act facetiously or in fun
10. to make fun of (someone); tease; kid
[C17: from Latin jocus a jest]
ˈjokingly adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
joke
(dʒoʊk)n., v. joked, jok•ing. n.
1. a short humorous anecdote with a punch line.
2. anything said or done to provoke laughter or cause amusement.
3. something amusing or ridiculous: I don't see the joke in that.
4. an object of laughter or ridicule, esp. because of being inadequate or sham.
5. a trifling matter: The loss was no joke.
v.i. 7. to speak or act in a playful way.
8. to say something in fun or teasing: I was only joking.
v.t. 9. to subject to jokes; make fun of.
[1660–70; < Latin jocus jest]
jok′ing•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
joke
- Latin jocus, "jest, joke," gave us joke.See also related terms for jest.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
joke
When someone makes or cracks a joke, they say something in order to make people laugh.
She would make jokes about her appearance.
We stayed up for hours, laughing and cracking jokes.
A joke is also a clever or funny story that you repeat in order to make people laugh. When joke has this meaning, you say that someone tells a joke.
Tell Uncle Henry the joke you told us.
A joke is also something that is done to make someone appear foolish. When joke has this meaning, you say that someone plays a joke on someone else.
They're playing a joke on you.
Be Careful!
Don't say that someone 'says a joke' or 'does a joke'.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
joke
Past participle: joked
Gerund: joking
Imperative |
---|
joke |
joke |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | ![]() humor, wit, witticism, wittiness, humour - a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter howler, sidesplitter, thigh-slapper, wow, belly laugh, riot, scream - a joke that seems extremely funny ethnic joke - a joke at the expense of some ethnic group funny, funny remark, funny story, good story - an account of an amusing incident (usually with a punch line); "she told a funny story"; "she made a funny" in-joke - a joke that is appreciated only by members of some particular group of people one-liner - a one-line joke shaggy dog story - a long rambling joke whose humor derives from its pointlessness sick joke - a joke in bad taste sight gag, visual joke - a joke whose effect is achieved by visual means rather than by speech (as in a movie) |
2. | joke - activity characterized by good humor diversion, recreation - an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates; "scuba diving is provided as a diversion for tourists"; "for recreation he wrote poetry and solved crossword puzzles"; "drug abuse is often regarded as a form of recreation" leg-pull, leg-pulling - as a joke: trying to make somebody believe something that is not true pleasantry - an agreeable or amusing remark; "they exchange pleasantries" | |
3. | ![]() diversion, recreation - an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates; "scuba diving is provided as a diversion for tourists"; "for recreation he wrote poetry and solved crossword puzzles"; "drug abuse is often regarded as a form of recreation" dirty trick - an unkind or aggressive trick practical joke - a prank or trick played on a person (especially one intended to make the victim appear foolish) | |
4. | joke - a triviality not to be taken seriously; "I regarded his campaign for mayor as a joke" puniness, slightness, triviality, pettiness - the quality of being unimportant and petty or frivolous | |
Verb | 1. | joke - tell a joke; speak humorously; "He often jokes even when he appears serious" communicate, intercommunicate - transmit thoughts or feelings; "He communicated his anxieties to the psychiatrist" fool around, horse around, fool - indulge in horseplay; "Enough horsing around--let's get back to work!"; "The bored children were fooling about" pun - make a play on words; "Japanese like to pun--their language is well suited to punning" |
2. | joke - act in a funny or teasing way |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
joke
noun
1. jest, gag (informal), wisecrack (informal), witticism, crack (informal), sally, quip, josh (slang, chiefly U.S. & Canad.), pun, quirk, one-liner (informal), jape No one told worse jokes than Claus.
2. jest, laugh, fun, josh (slang, chiefly U.S. & Canad.), lark, sport, frolic, whimsy, jape It was probably just a joke to them, but it wasn't funny to me.
3. farce, nonsense, parody, sham, mockery, absurdity, travesty, ridiculousness The police investigation was a joke. A total cover-up.
4. prank, trick, practical joke, lark (informal), caper, frolic, escapade, antic, jape I thought she was playing a joke on me at first but she wasn't.
5. laughing stock, butt, clown, buffoon, simpleton That man is just a complete joke.
verb
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
joke
noun1. Words or actions intended to excite laughter or amusement:
Slang: ha-ha.
2. A mischievous act:
Informal: shenanigan.
Slang: monkeyshine (often used in plural).
3. Informal. Something or someone uproariously funny or absurd:
Idiom: a laugh a minute.
4. An object of amusement or laughter:
1. To make jokes; behave playfully:
jest.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
joke
[dʒəʊk]A. N (= witticism, story) → chiste m; (= practical joke) → broma f; (= hoax) → broma f; (= person) → hazmerreír m
what sort of a joke is this? → ¿qué clase de broma es ésta?
the joke is that → lo gracioso es que ...
to take sth as a joke → tomar algo a broma
to treat sth as a joke → tomar algo a broma
it's (gone) beyond a joke (Brit) → esto no tiene nada de gracioso
to crack a joke → hacer un chiste
to crack jokes with sb → contarse chistes con algn
they spent an evening cracking jokes together → pasaron una tarde contándose chistes
for a joke → en broma
one can have a joke with her → tiene mucho sentido del humor
is that your idea of a joke? → ¿es que eso tiene gracia?
he will have his little joke → siempre está con sus bromas
to make a joke → hacer un chiste (about sth sobre algo) he made a joke of the disaster → se tomó el desastre a risa
it's no joke → no tiene nada de divertido
it's no joke having to go out in this weather → no tiene nada de divertido salir con este tiempo
the joke is on you → la broma la pagas tú
to play a joke on sb → gastar una broma a algn
I don't see the joke → no le veo la gracia
he's a standing joke → es un pobre hombre
it's a standing joke here → aquí eso siempre provoca risa
I can take a joke → tengo mucha correa or mucho aguante
he can't take a joke → no le gusta que le tomen el pelo
to tell a joke → contar un chiste (about sth sobre algo)
why do you have to turn everything into a joke? → ¿eres incapaz de tomar nada en serio?
what a joke! (iro) → ¡qué gracia! (iro)
what sort of a joke is this? → ¿qué clase de broma es ésta?
the joke is that → lo gracioso es que ...
to take sth as a joke → tomar algo a broma
to treat sth as a joke → tomar algo a broma
it's (gone) beyond a joke (Brit) → esto no tiene nada de gracioso
to crack a joke → hacer un chiste
to crack jokes with sb → contarse chistes con algn
they spent an evening cracking jokes together → pasaron una tarde contándose chistes
for a joke → en broma
one can have a joke with her → tiene mucho sentido del humor
is that your idea of a joke? → ¿es que eso tiene gracia?
he will have his little joke → siempre está con sus bromas
to make a joke → hacer un chiste (about sth sobre algo) he made a joke of the disaster → se tomó el desastre a risa
it's no joke → no tiene nada de divertido
it's no joke having to go out in this weather → no tiene nada de divertido salir con este tiempo
the joke is on you → la broma la pagas tú
to play a joke on sb → gastar una broma a algn
I don't see the joke → no le veo la gracia
he's a standing joke → es un pobre hombre
it's a standing joke here → aquí eso siempre provoca risa
I can take a joke → tengo mucha correa or mucho aguante
he can't take a joke → no le gusta que le tomen el pelo
to tell a joke → contar un chiste (about sth sobre algo)
why do you have to turn everything into a joke? → ¿eres incapaz de tomar nada en serio?
what a joke! (iro) → ¡qué gracia! (iro)
B. VI (= make jokes) → contar chistes, hacer chistes; (= be frivolous) → bromear
to joke about sth (= make jokes about) → contar chistes sobre algo; (= make light of) → tomarse algo a risa
I was only joking → lo dije en broma, no iba en serio
I'm not joking → hablo en serio
you're joking!; you must be joking! → ¡no lo dices en serio!
to joke about sth (= make jokes about) → contar chistes sobre algo; (= make light of) → tomarse algo a risa
I was only joking → lo dije en broma, no iba en serio
I'm not joking → hablo en serio
you're joking!; you must be joking! → ¡no lo dices en serio!
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
joke
(dʒəuk) noun1. anything said or done to cause laughter. He told/made the old joke about the elephant in the refrigerator; He dressed up as a ghost for a joke; He played a joke on us and dressed up as a ghost.chiste
2. something that causes laughter or amusement. The children thought it a huge joke when the cat stole the fish.gracia
verb1. to make a joke or jokes. They joked about my mistake for a long time afterwards.contar chistes
2. to talk playfully and not seriously. Don't be upset by what he said – he was only joking.bromear
ˈjoker noun1. in a pack of playing-cards, an extra card (usually having a picture of a jester) used in some games. comodín
2. a person who enjoys telling jokes, playing tricks etc. bromista
ˈjokingly adverbHe looked out at the rain and jokingly suggested a walk.en broma
it's no joke it is a serious or worrying matter. It's no joke when water gets into the petrol tank. no tiene gracia
joking apart/aside let us stop joking and talk seriously. I feel like going to Timbuctoo for the weekend – but, joking apart, I do need a rest! bromas aparte
take a joke to be able to accept or laugh at a joke played on oneself. The trouble with him is that he can't take a joke. tener sentido del humor
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
joke
→ broma , bromearMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009