• (British) IPA: /dʒəʊk/
• (America) IPA: /dʒoʊk/

joke (plural jokes)

1. An amusing story.

   • Or witty joke our airy senses moves / To pleasant laughter.

2. Something said or done for amusement, not in seriousness.

   It was a joke!

   • 1733-1738, Alexander Pope, Imitations of Horace:

     Enclose whole downs in walls, 'tis all a joke.

3. (figuratively) The root cause or main issue, especially an unexpected one
4. (figuratively) A laughably worthless thing or person; a sham.

   Your effort at cleaning your room is a joke.

   The president was a joke.

• See also Thesaurus:joke

• jocular

• French: plaisanterie, blague, joke
• German: Witz
• Italian: barzelletta, battuta, scherzo, celia
• Portuguese: piada
• Russian: анекдо́т
• Spanish: broma, chiste, chascarrillo

• French: plaisanterie, blague
• German: Scherz, Streich, Witz, Spaß
• Italian: battuta, scherzo, celia
• Portuguese: brincadeira
• Russian: шу́тка
• Spanish: broma, cuchufleta

• French: raté, ratée
• German: Witz
• Italian: burla
• Portuguese: piada
• Russian: (person) кло́ун
• Spanish: tomadura de pelo

joke (jokes, present participle joking; past and past participle joked)

1. (intransitive) To do or say something for amusement rather than seriously.

   I didn’t mean what I said — I was only joking.

2. (intransitive, followed by with) To dupe in a friendly manner for amusement; to mess with, play with.

   Relax, man, I'm just joking with you.

3. (transitive, dated) To make merry with; to make jokes upon; to rally.

   to joke a comrade

• joker

• French: plaisanter, blaguer
• German: scherzen, Witze machen, Spaß machen, witzeln
• Italian: scherzare
• Portuguese: gracejar
• Russian: шути́ть
• Spanish: bromear