A joke is something spoken, written, or done with humorous intention. Jokes may have many different forms, e.g., a single word or a gesture (considered in a particular context), a question-answer, or a whole short story. The word "joke" has a number of synonyms.
To achieve their end, jokes may employ irony, sarcasm, word play and other devices. Jokes may have a punch line, i.e. an ending to make it humorous.
A practical joke or prank differs from a spoken one in that the major component of the humour is physical rather than verbal (for example placing salt in the sugar bowl).
Read more about this topic: Traditional Story
Famous quotes containing the word joke:
“You could read Kant by yourself, if you wanted; but you must share a joke with some one else.”
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894)
“It is a medium of entertainment which permits millions of people to listen to the same joke at the same time, and yet remain lonesome.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)
“Suppose the world were only one of God’s jokes, would you work any the less to make it a good joke instead of a bad one?”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)