joke

joke · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Something said or done to cause laughter or amusement.

  2. 2.

    To say something funny or humorous; to jest.

  3. 3.

    A person or thing that is ridiculously inadequate.

  4. 4.

    A trick played on someone for fun.

Forms

plural: jokes

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    no joke — a serious matter; not something to laugh about
  • •
    joke around — to behave in a playful or humorous way
  • •
    practical joke — a trick played on someone
  • •
    inside joke — a joke understood only by a particular group
  • •
    the joke's on you/me — the person has become the target of their own joke

Related words

See also: jest, joker, jokes, joking
Synonyms: gag, jest, quip, witticism

Etymology

From Latin jocus ("jest, joke, sport"), which also gives us "jocular" and "jocund."