Tra từ joke - Từ điển American Heritage Dictionary 4th

joke (jōk)n.
1. Something said or done to evoke laughter or amusement, especially an amusing story with a punch line.
2. A mischievous trick; a prank.
3. An amusing or ludicrous incident or situation.
4. Informal.
a. Something not to be taken seriously; a triviality:
The accident was no joke.
b. An object of amusement or laughter; a laughingstock:
His loud tie was the joke of the office.v. joked, jok·ing, jokesv. intr.
1. To tell or play jokes; jest.
2. To speak in fun; be facetious.v. tr.
To make fun of; tease. [Latin iocus. See yek- in Indo-European Roots.] jokʹing·ly adv.
Synonyms: joke, jest, witticism, quip, sally, crack, wisecrack, gag
These nouns refer to something that is said or done in order to evoke laughter or amusement. Joke especially denotes an amusing story with a punch line at the end: told jokes at the party. Jest suggests frolicsome humor: amusing jests that defused the tense situation. A witticism is a witty, usually cleverly phrased remark: a speech full of witticisms. A quip is a clever, pointed, often sarcastic remark: responded to the tough questions with quips. Sally denotes a sudden quick witticism: ended the debate with a brilliant sally. Crack and wisecrack refer less formally to flippant or sarcastic retorts: made a crack about my driving ability; punished for making wisecracks in class. Gag is principally applicable to a broadly comic remark or to comic by-play in a theatrical routine: one of the most memorable gags in the history of vaudeville.