[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/pun/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [P](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/p/) / pun

# pun

noun (a pun, puns); verb (pun, puns, punned, punning)

«pun» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A pun is a joke that uses a word with two meanings, or words that sound the same, to be funny. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pun/#m1)
2. To pun means to make such a joke. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pun/#m2)

### In the lessons

In English lessons, puns are a kind of wordplay used in jokes, riddles, headlines and poems. They often use homophones (flour/flower) or double meanings. Phrases: «no pun intended», «pun intended». People often groan at bad puns.

### Examples

- I'm reading a book about anti-gravity — it's impossible to put down. That's a pun! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pun/#x1)
- «Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana» is a famous pun. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pun/#x2)
- Dad tells terrible puns at dinner. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pun/#x3)
- The headline used a pun on «sole» and «soul». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pun/#x4)
- Why can't a bicycle stand up? Because it's two-tyred — a pun on «tired». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pun/#x5)
- We wrote our own puns in English class. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pun/#x6)

### Note

Past: punned, punning (double n). Puns need two meanings or two similar sounds; spot both to «get» the joke.

## In Jewish tradition

In English lessons, puns are a kind of wordplay used in jokes, riddles, headlines and poems. They often use homophones (flour/flower) or double meanings. Phrases: «no pun intended», «pun intended». People often groan at bad puns.

### Note

Past: punned, punning (double n). Puns need two meanings or two similar sounds; spot both to «get» the joke.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «pun» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pun/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pun» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pun.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «pun» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/P/pun/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«pun» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/pun.html) on Mova free.