joke

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Something said or done to evoke laughter or amusement, especially an amusing story with a punch line.
2. n. A mischievous trick; a prank.
3. n. An amusing or ludicrous incident or situation.
4. n. Informal Something not to be taken seriously; a triviality: The accident was no joke.
5. n. Informal An object of amusement or laughter; a laughingstock: His loud tie was the joke of the office.
6. v. To tell or play jokes; jest.
7. v. To speak in fun; be facetious.
8. v. To make fun of; tease.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Something said or done for the sake of exciting laughter; some witty or sportive remark or act; a jest; also, jesting; raillery.
2. n. Something not real, or to no purpose; what is not in earnest or actually meant; an illusion.
3. n. Synonyms See jest.
4. To jest; make merry about something.
5. To cast jokes at; make merry with; rally: as, to joke a man about his love-affairs.

Wiktionary

1. n. An amusing story.
2. n. Something said or done for amusement.
3. n. figuratively The root cause or main issue, especially an unexpected one
4. n. figuratively A worthless thing or person.
5. v. intransitive To do or say something for humourous amusement rather than seriously.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. Something said for the sake of exciting a laugh; something witty or sportive (commonly indicating more of hilarity or humor than jest); a jest; a witticism.
2. n. Something not said seriously, or not actually meant; something done in sport.
3. v. To make merry with; to make jokes upon; to rally; to banter.
4. v. To do something for sport, or as a joke; to be merry in words or actions; to jest.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a triviality not to be taken seriously
2. n. a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
3. n. a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement
4. v. tell a joke; speak humorously
5. v. act in a funny or teasing way
6. n. activity characterized by good humor