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joke
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- pronunciation:
- jok
- parts of speech:
- noun, intransitive verb, transitive verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (noun, verb), Word History, Grammatical Patterns
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
a short fictional story told to provoke laughter, esp. in reaction to the ending.
The speaker told a few jokes before moving on to address more serious topics.- similar words:
- gag, jape, jest, josh, quip, shaggy dog story, story
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| definition 2: |
someone or something that is trifling or not worth one's worry or concern.
The supervisor is a joke--the employees can get away with anything.Sexual harassment is no joke.- similar words:
- jest, laugh, laughingstock
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| definition 3: |
something that is exceptionally easy.
That exam was a joke--I finished it in ten minutes!- synonyms:
- breeze, cinch, picnic
- similar words:
- child's play, jest, laugh
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| definition 4: |
anything intended to be funny or a source of amusement.
Knowing he always put sugar in his coffee, they filled the sugar bowl with salt for a joke.- similar words:
- gag, jape, jest, josh, laugh, quip, sally, witticism
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| related words: |
anecdote, fun, hoax, junction, mock, mockery, play, tease, trick |
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| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| inflections: |
jokes, joking, joked |
| definition 1: |
to talk or act so as to provoke laughter; jest.
The doctor jokes a lot, and it helps her patients relax.Those two are very funny when they're joking with each other.We really shouldn't joke about her illness.- synonyms:
- jape, kid
- similar words:
- clown, fool, gag, jest, josh, quip
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| definition 2: |
to say something for effect or amusement without meaning what one is saying.
I was joking when I said I was quitting, but everybody took me seriously.The governor joked that her fiery opponent should take up a calming hobby like knitting.[verb + (that) + clause
]
He joked that he was going to paint the living room purple.[verb + (that) + clause
]
- similar words:
- fool, gag, jape, josh, kid
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| related words: |
banter, rally |
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| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| definition: |
to make fun of; mock.
- synonyms:
- jape, kid, mock
- similar words:
- jest, josh, make fun of, rib, ridicule, tease
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| related words: |
kid |
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| derivation: |
jokingly (adv.) |
Joke is from a Latin word that originally meant "a game of words."
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