PRANK

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does prank mean? 

• PRANK (noun)
  The noun PRANK has 2 senses:

1. acting like a clown or buffoon

2. a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement

  Familiarity information: PRANK used as a noun is rare.

• PRANK (verb)
  The verb PRANK has 2 senses:

1. dress or decorate showily or gaudily

2. dress up showily

  Familiarity information: PRANK used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PRANK (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Acting like a clown or buffoon

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

buffoonery; clowning; frivolity; harlequinade; japery; prank

Hypernyms ("prank" is a kind of...):

craziness; folly; foolery; indulgence; lunacy; tomfoolery (foolish or senseless behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "prank"):

schtick; schtik; shtick; shtik ((Yiddish) a prank or piece of clowning)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

antic; caper; joke; prank; put-on; trick

Hypernyms ("prank" is a kind of...):

diversion; recreation (an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "prank"):

dirty trick (an unkind or aggressive trick)

practical joke (a prank or trick played on a person (especially one intended to make the victim appear foolish))

Derivation:

prankster (someone who plays practical jokes on others)

• PRANK (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Dress or decorate showily or gaudily

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Context example:

Roses were pranking the lawn

Hypernyms (to "prank" is one way to...):

adorn; beautify; decorate; embellish; grace; ornament (make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Dress up showily

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Context example:

He pranked himself out in his best clothes

Hypernyms (to "prank" is one way to...):

attire; deck out; deck up; dress up; fancy up; fig out; fig up; get up; gussy up; overdress; prink; rig out; tog out; tog up; trick out; trick up (put on special clothes to appear particularly appealing and attractive)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

 Context examples 

I shall sift the matter to the bottom, and put a stop to such pranks at once.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

But I want to find out about them, and who they are, and what their object was in playing this prank—if it was a prank—upon me.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Our minds will play us strange pranks, and bethink you that these words of the Lady Tiphaine Du Guesclin have wrought upon us and shaken us.”

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At first sight it would appear to be some childish prank.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) Does he/she play childish pranks such as pinching or playing "keep away" for the fun of it?

(NPI - Play Childish Pranks, NCI Thesaurus)

At the best, in her most charitable frame of mind, she considered the statement of his views to be a caprice, an erratic and uncalled-for prank.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

The idea struck me that if she discovered I knew or suspected her guilt, she would be playing of some of her malignant pranks on me; I thought it advisable to be on my guard.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

You have played so many pranks that I am afraid you have had a hand in this.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Alleyne had lingered for an instant in the passage, and as he did so there came a wild outcry from a chamber upon the left, and out there ran Aylward and John, laughing together like two schoolboys who are bent upon a prank.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"You must promise to behave well, and not cut up any pranks, and spoil our plans."

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)