What does prank mean?

Definitions for prank
præŋkprank

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word prank.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. buffoonery, clowning, japery, frivolity, harlequinade, pranknoun

    acting like a clown or buffoon

  2. antic, joke, prank, trick, caper, put-onverb

    a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement

  3. prankverb

    dress or decorate showily or gaudily

    "Roses were pranking the lawn"

  4. prankverb

    dress up showily

    "He pranked himself out in his best clothes"

Wiktionary

  1. pranknoun

    An evil deed; a malicious trick, an act of cruel deception.

  2. pranknoun

    A practical joke or mischievous trick.

  3. prankverb

    To adorn in a showy manner; to dress or equip ostentatiously.

  4. prankverb

    To perform a practical joke on; to trick.

  5. prankverb

    To call someone's phone and promptly hang up

  6. Etymology: From pranken, probably from pronken, proncken. Cognate with prunken, prunken, prunke. Connected also with prangen, prangen, pragt, all from pranganan, from brAngh-. Sense of "mischievous act" from earlier verbal sense of "to be crafty or subtle, set in order, adjust". See also prink, prance.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Pranknoun

    A frolick; a wild flight; a ludicrous trick; a wicked act.

    Lay home to him;
    Tell him, his pranks have been too broad to bear with. Sha.

    Such is thy audacious wickedness,
    Thy lewd, pestif’rous and dissentious pranks;
    The very infants prattle of thy pride. William Shakespeare.

    They caused the table to be covered and meat set on, which was no sooner set down, than in came the harpies, and played their accustomed pranks. Walter Raleigh.

    They put on their cloaths, and played all those pranks you have taken notice of. Joseph Addison, Guardian.

  2. To PRANKverb

    To decorate; to dress or adjust to ostentation.

    Etymology: pronken, Dutch.

    Some prank their ruffs, and others timely dight
    Their gay attire. Fairy Queen.

    In wine and meats she flow’d above the bank,
    And in excess exceeded her own might,
    In sumptuous tire she joy’d herself to prank,
    But of her love too lavish. Fairy Queen.

    These are tribunes of the people,
    The tongues o’ th’ common mouth: I despise them:
    For they do prank them in authority
    Against all noble sufferance. William Shakespeare.

    Your high self,
    The gracious mark o’ th’ land, you have obscur’d
    With a swain’s wearing; and me, poor lowly maid,
    Most goddess-like prank’d up. William Shakespeare, Winter’s Tale.

    ’Tis that miracle, and queen of gems,
    That nature pranks, her mind attracts my soul. William Shakespeare.

    I had not unlock’d my lips
    In this unhallowed air, but that this jugler
    Would think to charm my judgment as mine eyes,
    Obtruding false rules, prankt in reason’s garb. John Milton.

Wikipedia

  1. prank

    A practical joke, or prank, is a mischievous trick played on someone, generally causing the victim to experience embarrassment, perplexity, confusion, or discomfort. A person who performs a practical joke is called a "practical joker" or "prankster". Other terms for practical jokes include gag, rib, jape, or shenanigan. Practical jokes differ from confidence tricks or hoaxes in that the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke, rather than being talked into handing over money or other valuables. Practical jokes are generally lighthearted and without lasting effect; they aim to make the victim feel humbled or foolish, but not victimized or humiliated. Thus most practical jokes are affectionate gestures of humour and designed to encourage laughter. However, practical jokes performed with cruelty can constitute bullying, whose intent is to harass or exclude rather than reinforce social bonds through ritual humbling.Some countries in Western culture traditionally emphasize the carrying out of practical jokes on April Fools' Day and Mischief Night.

ChatGPT

  1. prank

    A prank is a practical joke or mischievous act intended to trick or tease someone, often in a humorous or playful manner. It typically involves surprising, embarrassing, or annoying the subject, without causing them severe harm or damage. Despite the intentions, a prank might be considered disrespectful or harmful if it crosses certain lines. Pranks are commonly used as a form of entertainment or celebration, especially during events like April Fool's Day.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Prankverb

    to adorn in a showy manner; to dress or equip ostentatiously; -- often followed by up; as, to prank up the body. See Prink

  2. Prankverb

    to make ostentatious show

  3. Pranknoun

    a gay or sportive action; a ludicrous, merry, or mischievous trick; a caper; a frolic

  4. Prankadjective

    full of gambols or tricks

  5. Etymology: [Cf. E. prink, also G. prangen, prunken, to shine, to make a show, Dan. prange, prunke, Sw. prunka, D. pronken.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Prank

    prangk, v.t. to display or adorn showily: to put in right order.—v.i. to make great show.—n. a sportive action: a mischievous trick.—n. Prank′er.—adv. Prank′ingly.—adjs. Prank′ish, Prank′some. [Closely akin to prink, a form of prick.]

Editors Contribution

  1. prankverb

    To play a trick on (someone).

    We pranked my sister in her bed.


    Submitted by zakaria1409 on July 15, 2022  

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of prank in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of prank in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of prank in a Sentence

  1. Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco:

    Even though some might say this is just a teenage prank, who knows what this teenager might have done.

  2. Venus Williams:

    I think I'm just going to approach her like every other match I have been approaching. My routine has been working pretty well so that's how I'm going to go into the match, i like to look at prank videos on YouTube and listen to music. I love music that keeps me calm before matches, because obviously when you get out there there's a lot of nerves anyway. Yeah, I like to find my own space, put some relaxed music on.

  3. Volodymyr Knyr:

    The higher the rank, the droller the prank.

  4. Kim Gang-lip:

    I don't think of this as an April Fool's prank...I wanted to tell you that protecting yourself is protecting the precious people around you.

  5. Carole Baskin:

    I was suspicious as we were doing it because the questions appeared taped. But had no idea it would turn out to be such a fun prank, it gave us a very welcome good laugh. I appreciate their cleverness and that they created their video in a way that I don't feel was in any way mean spirited.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

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Translations for prank

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"prank." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/prank>.

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