joke
joke Lexical Profile
joke Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Something said or done to provoke laughter or amusement, especially a brief oral narrative with aclimactic humorous twist or punchline.
"The speaker opened her presentation with a clever joke that immediately put the audience at ease."
A mischievous trick or prank played on someone for amusement.
"Hiding his car keys was meant as a harmless joke, though he did not find it funny at the time."
A person, situation, or thing that is ridiculously inadequate, absurd, or not to be taken seriously.
"The outdated safety regulations were widely regarded by the inspectors as a complete joke."
• verb
To make humorous remarks, tell funny stories, or speak in a playful rather than serious manner.
"The colleagues often joked with one another during lunch to relieve the stress of the workday."
• Rhymes for joke
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 17th century from Latin jocus, meaning 'a jest, sport, or pastime,' which is also the root of words like 'jocular' and 'juggle.'