Humour

/ˈhjuː.mə(ɹ)/ · noun

Meaning

(chiefly uncountable) The quality of being amusing, comical, funny..

Definitions by Sense

1. (chiefly uncountable) The quality of being amusing, comical, funny.
2. (uncountable) A mood, especially a bad mood; a temporary state of mind or disposition brought upon by an event; an abrupt illogical inclination or whim.
3. (archaic or historical) Any of the fluids in an animal body, especially the four "cardinal humours" of blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm that were believed to control the health and mood of the human body.
4. (medicine) Either of the two regions of liquid within the eyeball, the aqueous humour and vitreous humour.
5. (obsolete) Moist vapour, moisture.
6. (transitive) To pacify by indulging.

Example Sentences

She has a great sense of humour, and I always laugh a lot whenever we get together.

The sensitive subject was treated with humour, but in such way that no one was offended.

"I gathered that you might not be altogether sorry to see me. So"—with a reassuring laugh—"here I am." A mild amusement at the possible humours of the situation characterised his manner.

Merry VVhitefoord, farevvel! for thy ſake I admit / That a Scot may have humour, I had almoſt ſaid vvit: […]

A great deal of excellent humour was expended on the perplexities of mine host.

They stayed together during three dances, went out on to the terrace, explored wherever they were permitted to explore, paid two visits to the buffet, and enjoyed themselves much in the same way as if they had been school-children surreptitiously breaking loose from an assembly of grown-ups. The boy became volubly friendly and bubbling over with unexpected humour and high spirits.

Charles had not been employed above six months at Darracott Place, but he was not such a whopstraw as to make the least noise in the performance of his duties when his lordship was out of humour.

He was in a particularly vile humour that afternoon.

Synonyms for humour

Antonyms for humour

Related Words

Word Forms

• humours
• humor
• humouring
• humoured

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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