Definitions for ridiculeˈrɪd ɪˌkyul

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

rid•i•cule^*ˈrɪd ɪˌkyul(n.; v.)-culed, -cul•ing.

(n.)speech or action intended to cause contemptuous laughter; derision.
(v.t.)to make fun of.
Category: Common Vocabulary

^* Syn: ridicule , deride , mock , taunt mean to make fun of a person. To ridicule is to make fun of, either playfully or with the intention of humiliating: to ridicule a pretentious person. To deride is to laugh at scornfully: a student derided for acting silly. To mock is to make fun of by imitating another: She mocked his surprised expression. To taunt is to call attention to something annoying or humiliating, usu. maliciously and in front of others: The bully taunted the smaller boy.

Origin of ridicule:

1665–75; < L rīdiculum a joke <rīdēre to laugh

rid′i•cul`er(n.)

Princeton's WordNet

ridicule(noun)
language or behavior intended to mock or humiliate
derision, ridicule(verb)
the act of deriding or treating with contempt
ridicule, roast, guy, blackguard, laugh at, jest at, rib, make fun, poke fun(verb)
subject to laughter or ridicule
"The satirists ridiculed the plans for a new opera house"; "The students poked fun at the inexperienced teacher"; "His former students roasted the professor at his 60th birthday"

Wiktionary

ridicule(Noun)
derision; mocking or humiliating words or behaviour
ridicule(Verb)
to criticize or disapprove of someone or something through scornful jocularity; to make fun of
His older sibling constantly ridiculed him with sarcastic remarks.
ridicule(Adjective)
ridiculous
This action became so ridicule. uE000116473uE001 Aubrey.

Origin: From ridiculus, from ridere.

Webster Dictionary

Ridicule(noun)
an object of sport or laughter; a laughingstock; a laughing matter
Ridicule(noun)
remarks concerning a subject or a person designed to excite laughter with a degree of contempt; wit of that species which provokes contemptuous laughter; disparagement by making a person an object of laughter; banter; -- a term lighter than derision
Ridicule(noun)
quality of being ridiculous; ridiculousness
Ridicule(verb)
to laugh at mockingly or disparagingly; to awaken ridicule toward or respecting
Ridicule(adj)
ridiculous