pun
Say it: PUN /pʌn/ · noun
What “pun” means
A joke using double meanings or words that sound alike.
More precisely: A joke exploiting the different meanings of a word, or words that sound alike.
Example: “The bakery's sign — 'We knead you' — is a pun the owner is very proud of.”
When to use it
Use it for a joke built on a word's two meanings or similar sounds; it often earns a groan.
Similar words
wordplay, play on words, double meaning
Quick check
Your friend says, “The bicycle couldn't stand up because it was two-tyred,” playing on the sound of “too tired”. That's…
a proverb or a pun?
Show the answer
a pun
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