pun

CEFRB2

/pʌn/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A joke that uses a word with two meanings.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A joke or type of wordplay in which similar definitions or sounds of two words or phrases, or different definitions of the same word, are deliberately confused.

Examples

  • Although it seems impossible to translate this pun, many people try!

  • The pun is the lowest form of wit.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
3
Synonyms
2

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. To make or tell a pun; to make a play on words.

  2. A certain number of cowries, generally 80.

verb

Extra meaning

  1. To beat; strike with force; to ram; to pound, as in a mortar; reduce to powder, to pulverize.

More examples

In context

  • We punned about the topic until all around us groaned.

  • This is a pun.

  • What's your favorite pun?

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The speaker used a blank to make the audience laugh with a double meaning.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English ponnen, ponen, punen, from Old English punian, pūnian (“to pound, beat, bray, bruise, crush, grind”), from Proto-Germanic *punōną (“to break to pieces, pulverize”). See pound. As a kind of word play, from the notion of "beating" the words into place.