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View synonyms for pun

pun

[ puhn ]

noun

  1. 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.
  2. the word or phrase used in this way.


verb (used without object)

, punned, pun·ning.
  1. to make puns.

pun

1

/ pʌn /

noun

  1. the use of words or phrases to exploit ambiguities and innuendoes in their meaning, usually for humorous effect; a play on words. An example is: "Ben Battle was a soldier bold, And used to war's alarms: But a cannonball took off his legs, So he laid down his arms." (Thomas Hood)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

  1. intr to make puns
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

pun

2

/ pʌn /

verb

  1. tr to pack (earth, rubble, etc) by pounding
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

pun

  1. A humorous substitution of words that are alike in sound but different in meaning ( see double-entendre ), as in this passage from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll :

    “And how many hours a day did you do lessons?” said Alice, in a hurry to change the subject.

    “Ten hours the first day,” said the Mock Turtle, “nine the next, and so on.”

    “What a curious plan!” exclaimed Alice.

    “That's the reason they're called lessons,” the Gryphon remarked: “because they lessen from day to day.”



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Derived Forms

  • ˈpunner, noun
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Other Words From

  • punless adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pun1

First recorded in 1655–65; perhaps special use of pun, variant (now dialectal) of pound 1, in the sense “to mistreat (words)”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pun1

C17: possibly from Italian puntiglio point of detail, wordplay; see punctilio

Origin of pun2

C16: dialectal variant of pound 1
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Example Sentences

“There aren't any steaks involved, pardon the pun,” says Chin.

A paper published this week illuminated (pun intended) the relationship between light and matter.

Here's to hoping it's not illegal to make a terrible sex-related pun.

Note the bawdy pun in the first example, by which the speaker implies that she came last night.

But at least they "forge" (pun intended) the pieces by him that matter.

He pounded out the pun ordinary by the dozen for the comic weeklies at fifty cents an item.

Win' ruffle up he ha'r, yit he aint move; sun shine down 'pun 'im, yit he aint move.

I explained that he probably intended a pun upon his name, which was Coleman.

"They ought to keep you there for an hour longer for that vile pun," said Cumberland.

I confess that I don't see why a good pun should be thrown aside after it has served as the soul of a single sentence.

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pump uppuna