Meaning of joke In English

• 0 something, such as a funny story or trick, that is said or done in order to make people laugh:

  • Did I tell you the joke about the chicken crossing the road?

  • She spent the evening cracking (= telling) jokes and telling funny stories.

  • She tied his shoelaces together for a joke.

  • I hope Rob doesn't tell any of his dirty jokes (= jokes about sex) when my mother's here.

  • He tried to do a comedy routine, but all his jokes fell flat (= no one laughed at them).

  • Don't you get (= understand) the joke?

• 1 a person or thing that is very bad or silly:

  • Our new teacher's a joke - he can't even control the class.

  • The new software is a complete joke - it keeps crashing.

  • The test was a joke (= was very easy) - everyone finished in less than an hour.

• 2 to say funny things:

  • They joked and laughed as they looked at the photos.

  • It's more serious than you think, so please don't joke about it.

  • [ + speech ] "I didn't expect to be out so soon", he joked, after spending nine months in hospital.

  • I thought he was joking when he said Helen was pregnant, but she really is.

  • She wasn't joking (= she was serious) when she said she was going to move out of the house.

• 3 something, such as an amusing story or trick, that is said or done in order to make people laugh:

  • He told a joke about a farmer and a lawyer that made Nicholas burst into laughter.

• 4 something considered to be so bad or worthless that it is ridiculous:

  • The playing conditions on the muddy field were a joke.

  • The midterm exam was a joke (= too easy).

• 5 to say things in an amusing or playful manner:

  • [ I ] He joked about how I was always cleaning.

  • [ + that clause ] They’ve always joked that the place is so wet, the bullfrogs have to sit on the fences.