Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [puhn]
- /pʌn/
- /pʌn/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [puhn]
- /pʌn/
Definitions of pun word
- noun pun the humorous use of a word or phrase so as to emphasize or suggest its different meanings or applications, or the use of words that are alike or nearly alike in sound but different in meaning; a play on words. 1
- noun pun the word or phrase used in this way. 1
- verb without object pun to make puns. 1
- noun pun play on words 1
- intransitive verb pun make a play on words 1
- countable noun pun A pun is a clever and amusing use of a word or phrase with two meanings, or of words with the same sound but different meanings. For example, if someone says 'The peasants are revolting', this is a pun because it can be interpreted as meaning either that the peasants are fighting against authority, or that they are disgusting. 0
Information block about the term
Origin of pun
First appearance:
before 1655 One of the 46% oldest English words
1655-65; perhaps special use of pun, variant (now dial.) of pound1, i.e., to mistreat (words)
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Pun
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
pun popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 89% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
pun usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for pun
noun pun
- bon mot — A bon mot is a clever, witty remark.
- buffoonery — Buffoonery is foolish behaviour that makes you laugh.
- chestnut — A chestnut or chestnut tree is a tall tree with broad leaves.
- double entendre — a double meaning.
- double-entendre — a double meaning.
verb pun
- funned — something that provides mirth or amusement: A picnic would be fun.
- funning — something that provides mirth or amusement: A picnic would be fun.
- jive — swing music or early jazz.
- jiving — swing music or early jazz.
- joke — 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.
Top questions with pun
- what does no pun intended mean?
- what is an pun?
- what is a pun?
- what does pun mean?
- how did big pun die?
- what is pun?
- big pun how we roll?
- how old is big pun?
- what does pun intended mean?
- when did big pun die?
- how tall was big pun?