Joke
[dʒəʊk] or [dʒok]
Definition
(noun.) a triviality not to be taken seriously; 'I regarded his campaign for mayor as a joke'.
(noun.) a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter; 'he told a very funny joke'; 'he knows a million gags'; 'thanks for the laugh'; 'he laughed unpleasantly at his own jest'; 'even a schoolboy's jape is supposed to have some ascertainable point'.
(verb.) act in a funny or teasing way.
(verb.) tell a joke; speak humorously; 'He often jokes even when he appears serious'.
Edited by Gertrude--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) Something said for the sake of exciting a laugh; something witty or sportive (commonly indicating more of hilarity or humor than jest); a jest; a witticism; as, to crack good-natured jokes.
(n.) Something not said seriously, or not actually meant; something done in sport.
(v. t.) To make merry with; to make jokes upon; to rally; to banter; as, to joke a comrade.
(v. i.) To do something for sport, or as a joke; to be merry in words or actions; to jest.
Inputed by Cherie
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Jest, quip, quirk, crank, witticism, sally, JEU D'ESPRIT.
v. n. Jest, crack a joke, perpetrate a joke.
Inputed by Henrietta
Synonyms and Antonyms
[See JEST]
Checked by Genevieve
Definition
n. a jest: a witticism: something witty or sportive: anything said or done to excite a laugh.—v.t. to cast jokes at: to banter: to make merry with.—v.i. to jest: to be merry: to make sport.—n. Jok′er one who jokes or jests: a card generally the highest trump at euchre.—adv. Jok′ingly in a joking manner.
Typist: Nigel
Unserious Contents or Definition
A form of humor enjoyed by some and misunderstood by most; in England, requiring a diagram, raised letters and a club.
Inputed by Antonia
Examples
- It's the best joke of the season, isn't it? Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- It seemed it was a very funny joke if you understood it properly. Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell To Arms.
- But it's no joke, you know--if she stays here all the autumn she'll spoil everything, and Maria Van Osburgh will simply exult. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- The Swiss navy's no joke for us. Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell To Arms.
- Ah, I knew there was a joke! Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- You could remember the men you knew who died in the fighting around Pozoblanco; but it was a joke at Gaylord's. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- You can't understand a joke, my good fellow. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- At this, the charity-boy looked monstrous fierce; and said that Oliver would want one before long, if he cut jokes with his superiors in that way. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- The T'other Governor he's always joked his jokes agin me, owing, as I believe, to my being a honest man as gets my living by the sweat of my brow. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- He put his arm round Letty's neck silently, and led her into the kitchen without his usual jokes and caresses. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- Sergeant Cuff has a heart; HE doesn't cut jokes, Mr. Betteredge, with a poor hard-working girl. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- He laughed aloud at trifles, made bad jokes and applauded them himself, and, in short, grew unmeaningly noisy. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- It has become one of the grim trade jokes of innovators that the one thing you can count upon is that the rulers will come to think that they are the apex of human development. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- And because I make jokes sometime: and you know how dangerous it is to make jokes even in joke? Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was joking. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- It was a long way from the friendly joking they had together in the afternoon. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- Sir Leicester and Lady Dedlock, my dear, are not fit subjects for joking. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- You are certainly joking, Holmes. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- Married; you're joking, the Baronet cried, after the first explosion of rage and wonder. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- No; but you're joking, though. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- Mr. Holmes, this joking is very ill-timed. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- I am sure if I had had a notion of it, I would not have joked her about it for all my money. Jane Austen. Sense and Sensibility.
- The T'other Governor he's always joked his jokes agin me, owing, as I believe, to my being a honest man as gets my living by the sweat of my brow. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- It had a bullet hole through it and every one had always joked at him for keeping it. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- They joked freely with one another, but seldom with him. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- He used to laugh when the young fellows of the regiment joked him about Glorvina's manifest attentions to him. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- They called him the bulldog of Villaconejos and joked about him eating cattle raw. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- He joked about it to himself but he looked at the sky and at the far mountains and he swallowed the wine and he did not want it. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
Editor: Terence