A play on words which have the same sound but different meanings; an expression in which two different applications of a word present an odd or ludicrous idea; a kind of quibble or equivocation.
To make puns, or a pun; to use a word in a double sense, especially when the contrast of ideas is ludicrous; to play upon words; to quibble.
the deliberate and humorous use of a word or phrase to suggest a difference in meaning or use, as the substitution of the slogan visualize whirled peas for visualize world peace. a play on words that are the same or similar in sound but different in meaning. Note: In def. 1, the difference in meaning of the pun may be visual or aural, or may depend on changes in syntax. In def. 2, the pun depends on a change in context.
a trope; a name given several varieties of plays on words.
a word play suggesting, with humorous intent, the different meanings of one word or the use of two or more words similar in sound but different in meaning
a witty remark comparing words with similar meanings or sounds.
the humorous use of words, playing on similarities in sound or differences in meaning.
9,10 The usually humorous use of a word in such a way as to suggest two or more of its meanings or the meaning of another word similar in sound; a play on words. (e.g., the substitution of the slogan visualize world peace with visualize whirled peas).
or equivoque: n. the humorous use of a word or phrase so as to suggest it is identical or similar in sound but different in meaning. "Thou art Peter (Petros) and upon this rock (petra) I will build my church" (Matthew XVI:18)
Elaborate word play using similar sounds or concepts.
Humorous use of a word in such a way as to suggest two or more of its meanings EXAMPLE: I have a hot dog
A play upon words based upon the multiple meanings of words. example - "Men have become the tools of their tools." Henry David Thoreau After buying a hot-buttered yam from a vendor, the narrator replied, "I yam what I yam." Ralph Ellison The Invisible Man
A humorous play on words that can have multiple meanings is a pun.
(clipped form of It. puntiglio 'fine point'; ÂùÃö»y): A figure of speech involving a play on two or more words which sound similar but have different meanings, or refer to different things; usually humorous, but sometimes with serious intent
A play on words different in meaning but the same in sound, often used to produce an amusing effect (used a lot by Shakespeare). For example: A cannon ball took off his legs, so he laid down his arms.
Usually, the humorous use of a word or phrase to suggest two or more meanings at the same time.
A play on words that relies on a word's having more than one meaning or sounding like another word.
The humorous use of words that sound alike or nearly alike but are different in meaning as in "Isn't this a punny book?"
A joke that comes from a play on words. It can make use of a word's multiple meanings or a word's rhyme.
A play on words that are either identical in sound (homonyms) or very similar in sound, but are sharply diverse in meaning. There are four types of puns: ANTANACLASIS, ASTEISMUS, PARONOMASIA, SYLLEPSIS
a double meaning or a play on words
A clever comical technique, that uses ambiguity (words with double meaning) to add humor. A pun is a word or phrase that can often have several meanings or interpretations. It makes a point more memorable because it is thoughtful and humorous.
is a play on words wherein a word is used to convey two meanings at the same time. Example: Mark Twain presents a black-and-white view on slavery in Huck Finn.
quatrain refrain repetition rhyme
a deliberate playing on two possible meanings of one word. e.g. arms (as in limbs on the body ) and arms (as in weapons) or meet (as in coming together with someone socially and meat (as in flesh) This device is usually used to create a comic effect. It is very popular with newspaper headline writers.
Playful device where similar sounding words with different meanings, or single words with multiple meanings are employed. Shakespeare frequently used puns for both comic and serious effect e.g. in Romeo and Juliet the dying Mercutio says: "Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man." William Empson identified puns as a form of ambiguity.
A play on words based upon the multiple meanings of words; such as, "You stink" which could mean 1. untalented or 2. bad odor
A pun (also known as paronomasia) is a figure of speech which consists of a deliberate confusion of similar words or phrases for rhetorical effect, whether humorous or serious. A pun can rely on the assumed equivalency of multiple similar words (homonymy), of different shades of meaning of one word (polysemy), or of a literal meaning with a metaphor. Bad puns are sometimes called "cheesy."