What is the difference between wordplay and pun?
wordplay | pun | Related terms |
A humorous play on words; such plays on words collectively.
A witty verbal exchange; such exchanges collectively.
To beat; strike with force; ram; pound, as in a mortar; reduce to powder.
* Shakespeare
A joke or type of wordplay in which similar senses or sounds of two words or phrases, or different senses of the same word, are deliberately confused.
* {{quote-book
, title=(Mansfield Park)
, last=Austen
, first=Jane
, authorlink=Jane Austen
, year=1814
*:Comment : Austen was likely referring to spanking/flogging, then common naval punishments, known as (le vice Anglais) .
To make or tell a pun; make a play on words.
Pun is a related term of wordplay.
As nouns the difference between wordplay and pun
is that wordplay is a humorous play on words; such plays on words collectively while pun is a joke or type of wordplay in which similar senses or sounds of two words or phrases, or different senses of the same word, are deliberately confused.As a verb pun is
to beat; strike with force; ram; pound, as in a mortar; reduce to powder.wordplay
English
(wikipedia wordplay)Noun
(en noun)Synonyms
* See alsopun
English
(wikipedia pun)Etymology 1
From (etyl) . More at (l).Verb
- He would pun thee into shivers with his fist.
Etymology 2
From a special use of Etymology 1 .Noun
(en noun)citation, volume=one, chapter VI , publisher= }}
- "Certainly, my home at my uncle's brought me acquainted with a circle of admirals. Of Rears'' and ''Vices I saw enough. Now do not be suspecting me of a pun , I entreat."
Usage notes
* Because some puns are based on pronunciation, puns are more obvious when spoken aloud. For example: “This rock is gneiss, but don’t take it for granite.” This reads (with a US accent) similarly to “This rock is nice, but don’t take it for granted.” (Both “gneiss” and “granite” are types of rock.)Synonyms
* See alsoVerb
- We punned about the topic until all around us groaned.
