Definition of joke
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: something said or done to provoke laughter
especially
: a brief oral narrative with a climactic humorous twist
b(1)
: the humorous or ridiculous element in something
(2)
: an instance of jesting : kidding
can't take a joke
c
: practical joke
d
: laughingstock
2
: something not to be taken seriously : a trifling matter
consider his skiing a joke— Harold Callender
—often used in negative constructions it is no joke to be lost in the desert
joke
verb
joked; joking
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for joke
The first known use of joke was in 1670
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