rid|i|cule

rid|i|cule
rid|i|cule «RIHD uh kyool», verb, -culed, -cul|ing, noun.
–v.t.
to laugh at; make fun of; mock: »

Sometimes boys ridicule their sisters' friends. My father discouraged me by ridiculing my performances (Benjamin Franklin).

╂[< noun]
–n.
1. laughter in mockery; words or actions that make fun of somebody or something: »

Silly mistakes and odd clothes often invite ridicule.

SYNONYM(S): derision.
2. Archaic. ridiculous quality: »

to see the ridicule of this monstrous practice (Joseph Addison).

3. Archaic. something ridiculous.
╂[< French ridicule < Middle French, adjective < Latin rīdiculum, neuter of rīdiculus; see etym. under ridiculous (Cf. ↑ridiculous)]
–rid´i|cul´er, noun.
Synonym Study transitive verb. Ridicule, deride, mock mean to make fun of someone or something and cause him or it to be laughed at. Ridicule emphasizes making fun of a person or thing, in either a good-natured or an unkind way, with the intention of making him or it seem little and unimportant: »

Boys ridicule their sisters' friends.

Deride emphasizes laughing in contempt and holding up to scorn: »

Some people deride patriotic rallies and parades.

Mock means to ridicule in a scornful way: »

The impudent boys mocked the teacher.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • rid´i|cul´er — rid|i|cule «RIHD uh kyool», verb, culed, cul|ing, noun. –v.t. to laugh at; make fun of; mock: »Sometimes boys ridicule their sisters friends. My father discouraged me by ridiculing my performances (Benjamin Franklin). ╂[< noun] –n. 1 …   Useful english dictionary

  • cule — an·i·mal·cule; anon·y·mun·cule; ar·bus·cule; bas·cule; can·i·cule; cau·li·cule; cor·pus·cule; cre·pus·cule; den·ti·cule; dra·mat·i·cule; ed·i·cule; fas·ci·cule; floc·cule; fol·li·cule; grat·i·cule; len·ti·cule; lod·i·cule; mol·e·cule;… …   English syllables

  • rid — ac·ni·do·spo·rid·ia; ac·rid; ac·rid·ly; ac·rid·ness; an·te·me·rid·i·an; ap·o·rid·ea; as·ca·rid; as·ca·rid·ia; bed·rid·den; breadth·rid·er; can·tha·rid·i·an; ca·rid·e·an; chlo·rid·er; cid·a·rid; clit·o·rid·e·an; cni·do·spo·rid·ia; col·ly·rid·i·an; …   English syllables

  • ridicule — rid·i·cule …   English syllables

  • ridicule — rid|i|cule1 [ rıdı,kjul ] noun uncount remarks or behavior intended to make someone or something seem silly by making fun of them in an unkind way: The idea met with such ridicule that it was dropped. object of ridicule (=someone or something… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • ridicule — rid•i•cule [[t]ˈrɪd ɪˌkyul[/t]] n. v. culed, cul•ing 1) speech or action intended to cause contemptuous laughter; derision 2) cvb to make fun of • Etymology: 1665–75; < L rīdiculum a joke < rīdēre to laugh rid′i•cul er, n. syn: ridicule,… …   From formal English to slang

  • Ridicule — Rid i*cule, n. [F. ridicule, L. ridiculum a jest, fr. ridiculus. See {Ridiculous}.] 1. An object of sport or laughter; a laughingstock; a laughing matter. [1913 Webster] [Marlborough] was so miserably ignorant, that his deficiencies made him the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ridicule — Rid i*cule, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ridiculed};p. pr. & vb. n. {Ridiculing}.] To laugh at mockingly or disparagingly; to awaken ridicule toward or respecting. [1913 Webster] I ve known the young, who ridiculed his rage. Goldsmith. [1913 Webster] Syn …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ridicule — Rid i*cule, a. [F.] Ridiculous. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] This action . . . became so ridicule. Aubrey. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ridiculed — Ridicule Rid i*cule, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ridiculed};p. pr. & vb. n. {Ridiculing}.] To laugh at mockingly or disparagingly; to awaken ridicule toward or respecting. [1913 Webster] I ve known the young, who ridiculed his rage. Goldsmith. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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