What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Joke vs Toy - What's the difference?

joke | toy |

As nouns the difference between joke and toy

is that joke is an amusing story while toy is something to play with, especially as intended for use by a child.

As verbs the difference between joke and toy

is that joke is to do or say something for amusement rather than seriously while toy is to play (with).

joke

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • An amusing story.
  • * Gay
  • Or witty joke our airy senses moves / To pleasant laughter.
  • Something said or done for amusement, not in seriousness.
  • It was a joke !
  • * Alexander Pope
  • Enclose whole downs in walls, 'tis all a joke .
  • (figuratively) The root cause or main issue, especially an unexpected one
  • (figuratively) A worthless thing or person.
  • Your effort at cleaning your room is a joke .
    The president was a joke .

    Usage notes

    * Adjectives often applied to "joke": old, bad, inside, poor, silly, funny, lame, hilarious, stupid, offensive.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * bad joke * standing joke * knock-knock joke * light bulb joke * practical joke

    Coordinate terms

    * comedy * limerick * parody * pun

    Verb

    (jok)
  • To do or say something for amusement rather than seriously.
  • I didn’t mean what I said — I was only joking .
  • (dated) To make merry with; to make jokes upon; to rally.
  • to joke a comrade

    See also

    * jeer * mock ----

    toy

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something to play with, especially as intended for use by a child.
  • A thing of little importance or value; a trifle.
  • * Abr. Abbot
  • They exchange for knives, glasses, and such toys , great abundance of gold and pearl.
  • A simple, light piece of music, written especially for the virginal.
  • (obsolete) Love play, amorous dalliance; fondling.
  • * 1590 , Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene , I.i:
  • Then seemed him his Lady by him lay, / And to him playnd, how that false winged boy, / Her chast hart had subdewd, to learne Dame pleasures toy .
  • (obsolete) A vague fancy, a ridiculous idea or notion; a whim.
  • *, vol.1, III.i.2:
  • Though they do talk with you, and seem to be otherwise employed, and to your thinking very intent and busy, still that toy runs in their mind, that fear, that suspicion, that abuse, that jealousy […].
  • * Spenser
  • To fly about playing their wanton toys .
  • * Beaumont and Fletcher
  • What if a toy take 'em in the heels now, and they all run away.
  • * Drayton
  • Nor light and idle toys my lines may vainly swell.
  • (slang, derogatory) An inferior graffiti artist.
  • * 2009 , Gregory J. Snyder, Graffiti Lives: Beyond the Tag in New York's Urban Underground (page 40)
  • It is incorrect to say that toys tag and masters piece; toys just do bad tags, bad throw-ups, and bad pieces.
  • * 2011 , Adam Melnyk, Visual Orgasm: The Early Years of Canadian Graffiti (page 45)
  • I was a toy until I met Sear, who moved here from Toronto and showed me the book Subway Art.
  • (obsolete) An old story; a silly tale.
  • (Shakespeare)
  • (Scotland, archaic) A headdress of linen or wool that hangs down over the shoulders, worn by old women of the lower classes; called also toy mutch.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
  • Having, moreover, put on her clean toy , rokelay, and scarlet plaid.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * boy toy * chew toy * cuddly toy * sex toy * toylike * toyshop

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To play (with).
  • to toy with a piece of food on one's plate
    Figo is toying with the English defence.
  • To ponder or consider.
  • I have been toying with the idea of starting my own business.
  • (slang) To stimulate with a sex toy.
  • * 2013 , Jonathan Everest, Lady Loverly's Chattel
  • He could see her hand go to her slit, and soon she was toying herself along, breathing heavily.

    See also

    * game ----