practical jokeˌpractical ˈjoke noun [countable] 
Examples
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Thesaurus- At first I thought it was an enormous practical joke.
- Baker said that he thought the incident was a practical joke that had backfired.
- Had he been brought here as some kind of practical joke?
- Suspecting some bizarre practical joke, Charlotte marched up to the front door and rang the bell.
- Two weeks ago firemen freed a woman after a practical joke ended in her unable to release herself.
Longman Language Activatorsomething that you do to make people laugh► joke
a trick that is intended to give someone a surprise or shock, or to make them look stupid—practical joker noun [countable] · We didn't mean to frighten you. It was only a joke.· Inside the parcel there was an empty bottle. "Is this some kind of joke?'' he asked.take a joke (=accept a joke that is against you) · I can take a joke as well as anyone, but this isn't funny, it's embarrassing.
► practical joke a trick, especially one that is carefully planned that is intended to confuse and surprise someone and to make other people laugh at them: · The phone call was the sort of practical joke that radio stations often play on celebrities.play a practical joke: · Police believe the circles in the crops are made by someone playing an elaborate practical joke.
► prank a silly action that is intended as a harmless joke - use this especially when something serious happens as a result of it: · The fire was started as a prank.· Pushing her in the river seemed like a harmless prank, but it ended in tragedy.pull/play a prank (on somebody): · Every year, the older kids pull pranks on new students.
► play a trick/joke to surprise or deceive someone with a trick so that you and other people can laugh at them: · He didn't seem the type of boy to play jokes.play a trick/joke on: · When she didn't come, I thought she was playing a trick on me.
► as a joke also for a joke British if you do something as a joke or for a joke , you do it because you think it will have amusing results or make people laugh: · You shouldn't spread rumours like that, even as a joke.· Once, for a joke, they changed round all the numbers on the doors.
► for a laugh British informal if you do something for a laugh , you do it for fun or to make people laugh: · Just for a laugh we hung all the pictures upside down.· Kevin set off the fire alarm for a laugh.
someone who tells jokes or does things to make people laugh► comedian/comic a professional entertainer who makes people laugh: · Lenny Henry, the famous British comedian, will appear in a show in London next week.· Before becoming a film actor, he'd been a comic appearing regularly in cabaret.stand-up comedian/comic (=one who stands alone in front of the public and tells jokes): · Robin Williams first made his name as a stand-up comedian.
► wit an intelligent person who is good at being funny in clever or original ways: · Rochester was well known as a wit in society circles.· A dozen writers and wits used to gather at the Algonquin Hotel for lunch.
► practical joker someone who does something in order to confuse or trick someone else, to make other people laugh: · The shop sold toys and gadgets for practical jokers.