Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Pun?

\Pun\, v. t. [See {Pound} to beat.] To pound. [Obs.] He would pun thee into shivers with his fist. --Shak.
\Pun\, n. [Cf. {Pun} to pound, {Pound} to beat.] 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. --Addison. A better put on this word was made on the Beggar's Opera, which, it was said, made Gay rich, and Rich gay. --Walpole.
\Pun\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Punned}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Punning}.] 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. --Dryden.
\Pun\, v. t. To persuade or affect by a pun. --Addison.