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—jokeless, adj. —jokingly, adv./johk/, n., v., joked, joking.n.1. something said or done to provoke laughter or cause amusement, as a witticism, a short and amusing anecdote, or a prankish act: He tells very funny jokes. She played a joke on him.2. something that is amusing or ridiculous, esp. because of being ludicrously inadequate or a sham; a thing, situation, or person laughed at rather than taken seriously; farce: Their pretense of generosity is a joke. An officer with no ability to command is a joke.3. a matter that need not be taken very seriously; trifling matter: The loss was no joke.4. something that does not present the expected challenge; something very easy: The test was a joke for the whole class.5. See practical joke.v.i.6. to speak or act in a playful or merry way: He was always joking with us.7. to say something in fun or teasing rather than in earnest; be facetious: He didn't really mean it, he was only joking.v.t.8. to subject to jokes; make fun of; tease.9. to obtain by joking: The comedian joked coins from the audience.[1660-70; < L jocus jest]Syn. 1. wisecrack, gag, jape, prank, quip, quirk, sally, raillery. JOKE, JEST refer to something said (or done) in sport, or to cause amusement. A JOKE is something said or done for the sake of exciting laughter; it may be raillery, a witty remark, or a prank or trick: to tell a joke. JEST, today a more formal word, nearly always refers to joking language and is more suggestive of scoffing or ridicule than is JOKE: to speak in jest.
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Universalium. 2010.
