From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Joke \Joke\, v. i. [L. jocari.]
To do something for sport, or as a joke; to be merry in words
or actions; to jest.
[1913 Webster]
He laughed, shouted, joked, and swore. --Macaulay.
Syn: To jest; sport; rally; banter. See Jest.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Joke \Joke\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Joked; p. pr. & vb. n.
Joking.]
To make merry with; to make jokes upon; to rally; to banter;
as, to joke a comrade.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Joke \Joke\, n. [L. jocus. Cf Jeopardy, Jocular, Juggler.]
[1913 Webster]
1. Something said for the sake of exciting a laugh; something
witty or sportive (commonly indicating more of hilarity or
humor than jest); a jest; a witticism; as, to crack
good-natured jokes.
[1913 Webster]
And gentle dullness ever loves a joke. --Pope.
[1913 Webster]
Or witty joke our airy senses moves
To pleasant laughter. --Gay.
[1913 Webster]
2. Something not said seriously, or not actually meant;
something done in sport.
[1913 Webster]
Inclose whole downs in walls, 't is all a joke.
--Pope.
[1913 Webster]
In joke, in jest; sportively; not meant seriously.
Practical joke. See under Practical.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
joke
n 1: a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter;
"he told a very funny joke"; "he knows a million gags";
"thanks for the laugh"; "he laughed unpleasantly at his own
jest"; "even a schoolboy's jape is supposed to have some
ascertainable point" [syn: joke, gag, laugh, jest,
jape]
2: activity characterized by good humor [syn: jest, joke,
jocularity]
3: a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement [syn:
antic, joke, prank, trick, caper, put-on]
4: a triviality not to be taken seriously; "I regarded his
campaign for mayor as a joke"
v 1: tell a joke; speak humorously; "He often jokes even when he
appears serious" [syn: joke, jest]
2: act in a funny or teasing way [syn: joke, jest]