pun

[ puhn ]

/ pʌn /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR pun ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

the word or phrase used in this way.

verb (used without object), punned, pun·ning.

to make puns.

Origin of pun

1655–65; perhaps special use of pun, variant (now dial.) of pound¹, i.e., to mistreat (words)

OTHER WORDS FROM pun

punless, adjective

Words nearby pun

pumpman, pump-oxygenator, pump priming, pump room, pump up, pun, puna, Punakha, Punan, Puncak Jaya, punce

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for pun

“There aren't any steaks involved, pardon the pun,” says Chin.
Adventure Photographer Jimmy Chin: Defying the Rational, Physically and Creatively|Oliver Jones|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A paper published this week illuminated (pun intended) the relationship between light and matter.
We Can Create Matter from Light?!|Matthew R. Francis|May 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But at least they "forge" (pun intended) the pieces by him that matter.
Iron Man XVII|Blake Gopnik|January 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Flag burning was once, pardon the pun, the “hot” social issue on Capitol Hill.
The Hottest Constitutional Amendments of 2013|Ben Jacobs|December 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST

“Once Pun died, I went on a diet and lost like 100 pounds,” Fat Joe told VladTV.
Where Have All the Fat Rappers Gone? Or, How Hip-Hop Lost All the Weight.|Emilia Petrarca|August 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Is she not the woman who said that she was always inspired to a pun by the sight of a cancer hospital?
The Green Carnation|Robert Smythe Hichens
"Near enough for a pun, and much nearer than modern punsters often get it," continued Mr. Mapps.
Dikes and Ditches|Oliver Optic
I pointed to the print of Mr. Coates, which he gave me for a few shillings, chuckling at the pun upon the margin.
The Works of Max Beerbohm|Max Beerbohm
Nat Trevor, if you dare to pun, I'll—I'll—bust your spark plug.
The Motor Rangers Through the Sierras|Marvin West
Lady Foljambe evidently did not appreciate this pun upon her surname.
The White Lady of Hazelwood|Emily Sarah Holt

British Dictionary definitions for pun (1 of 2)

pun¹

/ (pʌn) /

noun

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)

verb puns, punning or punned

(intr) to make puns

Word Origin for pun

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

British Dictionary definitions for pun (2 of 2)

pun²

/ (pʌn) /

verb puns, punning or punned

(tr) British to pack (earth, rubble, etc) by pounding

Derived forms of pun

punner, noun

Word Origin for pun

C16: dialectal variant of pound 1

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

Cultural definitions for pun

pun

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.”

单词	pun
释义	pun [ puhn ] / pʌn / SEE SYNONYMS FOR pun ON THESAURUS.COM noun 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. the word or phrase used in this way. verb (used without object), punned, pun·ning. to make puns. Origin of pun 1655–65; perhaps special use of pun, variant (now dial.) of pound¹, i.e., to mistreat (words) OTHER WORDS FROM pun punless, adjective Words nearby pun pumpman, pump-oxygenator, pump priming, pump room, pump up, pun, puna, Punakha, Punan, Puncak Jaya, punce Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for pun “There aren't any steaks involved, pardon the pun,” says Chin. Adventure Photographer Jimmy Chin: Defying the Rational, Physically and Creatively\|Oliver Jones\|October 6, 2014\|DAILY BEAST A paper published this week illuminated (pun intended) the relationship between light and matter. We Can Create Matter from Light?!\|Matthew R. Francis\|May 20, 2014\|DAILY BEAST But at least they "forge" (pun intended) the pieces by him that matter. Iron Man XVII\|Blake Gopnik\|January 24, 2014\|DAILY BEAST Flag burning was once, pardon the pun, the “hot” social issue on Capitol Hill. The Hottest Constitutional Amendments of 2013\|Ben Jacobs\|December 26, 2013\|DAILY BEAST “Once Pun died, I went on a diet and lost like 100 pounds,” Fat Joe told VladTV. Where Have All the Fat Rappers Gone? Or, How Hip-Hop Lost All the Weight.\|Emilia Petrarca\|August 28, 2013\|DAILY BEAST Is she not the woman who said that she was always inspired to a pun by the sight of a cancer hospital? The Green Carnation\|Robert Smythe Hichens "Near enough for a pun, and much nearer than modern punsters often get it," continued Mr. Mapps. Dikes and Ditches\|Oliver Optic I pointed to the print of Mr. Coates, which he gave me for a few shillings, chuckling at the pun upon the margin. The Works of Max Beerbohm\|Max Beerbohm Nat Trevor, if you dare to pun, I'll—I'll—bust your spark plug. The Motor Rangers Through the Sierras\|Marvin West Lady Foljambe evidently did not appreciate this pun upon her surname. The White Lady of Hazelwood\|Emily Sarah Holt British Dictionary definitions for pun (1 of 2) pun¹ / (pʌn) / noun 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) verb puns, punning or punned (intr) to make puns Word Origin for pun C17: possibly from Italian puntiglio point of detail, wordplay; see punctilio British Dictionary definitions for pun (2 of 2) pun² / (pʌn) / verb puns, punning or punned (tr) British to pack (earth, rubble, etc) by pounding Derived forms of pun punner, noun Word Origin for pun C16: dialectal variant of pound 1 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 Content related to pun no pun intendedIf you can't resist making those dad jokes and really groan-worthy puns, this phrase should be your best friend. READ MORE Words related to pun joke, double entendre, quip, witticism, conceit, quibble, ambiguity, paronomasia, equivoque Cultural definitions for pun pun 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.” The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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pun

noun

verb (used without object), punned, pun·ning.

Origin of pun

OTHER WORDS FROM pun

Words nearby pun

Example sentences from the Web for pun

British Dictionary definitions for pun (1 of 2)

noun

verb puns, punning or punned

Word Origin for pun

British Dictionary definitions for pun (2 of 2)

verb puns, punning or punned

Derived forms of pun

Word Origin for pun

Content related to pun

Words related to pun

Cultural definitions for pun