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Mock vs Joke - What's the difference?

mock | joke |

As nouns the difference between mock and joke

is that mock is an imitation, usually of lesser quality while joke is an amusing story.

As verbs the difference between mock and joke

is that mock is to mimic, to simulate while joke is to do or say something for amusement rather than seriously.

As an adjective mock

is imitation, not genuine; fake.

mock

English

Alternative forms

* (l) (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • An imitation, usually of lesser quality.
  • (Crashaw)
  • Mockery, the act of mocking.
  • * Bible, Proverbs xiv. 9
  • Fools make a mock at sin.
  • A practice exam set by an educating institution to prepare students for an important exam.
  • He got a B in his History mock , but improved to an A in the exam.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To mimic, to simulate.
  • * Shakespeare
  • To see the life as lively mocked' as ever / Still sleep ' mocked death.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Mocking marriage with a dame of France.
  • To make fun of by mimicking, to taunt.
  • * Bible, 1 Kings xviii. 27
  • Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud.
  • * Gray
  • Let not ambition mock their useful toil.
  • To tantalise, and disappoint (the hopes of).
  • * Bible, Judges xvi. 13
  • Thou hast mocked me, and told me lies.
  • * 1597 , William Shakespeare, Henry IV , Part II, Act V, Scene III:
  • And with his spirit sadly I survive, / to mock the expectations of the world; / to frustrate prophecies, and to raze out / rotten opinion
  • * 1603 , William Shakespeare, Othello , Act III, Scene III:
  • "It is the greene-ey'd Monster, which doth mocke / The meate it feeds on."
  • * 1667 , John Milton, Paradise Lost :
  • Why do I overlive? / Why am I mocked with death, and lengthened out / to deathless pain?
  • * Milton
  • He will not / Mock us with his blest sight, then snatch him hence.
  • * 1765 , Benjamin Heath, A revisal of Shakespear's text , page 563 (a commentary on the "mocke the meate" line from Othello):
  • ‘Mock’ certainly never signifies to loath. Its common signification is, to disappoint.
  • * 1812 , The Critical Review or, Annals of Literature , page 190:
  • The French revolution indeed is a prodigy which has mocked the expectations both of its friends and its foes. It has cruelly disappointed the fondest hopes of the first, nor has it observed that course which the last thought that it would have pursued.

    Synonyms

    * See also * See also

    See also

    * jeer

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Imitation, not genuine; fake.
  • 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 ----