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amusing - 5 dictionary results

a⋅mus⋅ing

[uh-myoo-zing]
–adjective
1. pleasantly entertaining or diverting: an amusing speaker.
2. causing laughter or mirth; humorously entertaining: an amusing joke.

Origin:
1590–1600; amuse + -ing 2


a⋅mus⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
a⋅mus⋅ing⋅ness, noun


1. charming, cheering, lively. 2. laughable, delightful, funny. Amusing, comical, droll describe that which causes mirth. That which is amusing is quietly humorous or funny in a gentle, good-humored way: The baby's attempts to talk were amusing. That which is comical causes laughter by being incongruous, witty, or ludicrous: His huge shoes made the clown look comical. Droll adds to comical the idea of strange or peculiar, and sometimes that of sly or waggish humor: the droll antics of a kitten; a droll imitation.

a⋅muse

[uh-myooz]
–verb (used with object), a⋅mused, a⋅mus⋅ing.
1. to hold the attention of (someone) pleasantly; entertain or divert in an enjoyable or cheerful manner: She amused the guests with witty conversation.
2. to cause mirth, laughter, or the like, in: The comedian amused the audience with a steady stream of jokes.
3. to cause (time, leisure, etc.) to pass agreeably.
4. Archaic. to keep in expectation by flattery, pretenses, etc.
5. Obsolete.
a. to engross; absorb.
b. to puzzle; distract.

Origin:
1470–80; < MF amuser to divert, amuse; see a- 5 , muse


a⋅mus⋅a⋅ble, adjective
a⋅mus⋅er, noun


1. please, charm, cheer. Amuse, divert, entertain mean to occupy the attention with something pleasant. That which amuses is usually playful or humorous and pleases the fancy. Divert implies turning the attention from serious thoughts or pursuits to something light, amusing, or lively. That which entertains usually does so because of a plan or program that engages and holds the attention by being pleasing and sometimes instructive.
a·muse   (ə-myōōz')   
tr.v.   a·mused, a·mus·ing, a·mus·es
  1. To occupy in an agreeable, pleasing, or entertaining fashion.
  2. To cause to laugh or smile by giving pleasure: I was not amused by his jokes.
  3. Archaic To delude or deceive.

[Middle English, from Old French amuser, to stupefy : a-, to (from Latin ad-; see ad-) + muser, to stare stupidly; see muse.]
a·mus'a·ble adj., a·mus'er n.
Synonyms: These verbs refer to actions that provide pleasure, especially as a means of passing time. Amuse, the least specific, implies directing attention away from serious matters: I amused myself with a game of solitaire.
Entertain suggests acts undertaken to furnish amusement: "They [timetables and catalogs] are much more entertaining than half the novels that are written" (W. Somerset Maugham).
Divert implies distraction from worrisome thought or care: "I had neither Friends or Books to divert me" (Richard Steele).
To regale is to entertain with something enormously enjoyable: "He loved to regale his friends with tales about the many memorable characters he had known as a newspaperman" (David Rosenzweig).
a·mus·ing   (ə-myōō'zĭng)   
adj.  
  1. Entertaining or pleasing.
  2. Arousing laughter.
a·mus'ing·ly adv., a·mus'ing·ness n.

Amusing

A*mus"ing\, a. Giving amusement; diverting; as, an amusing story. -- A*mus"ing*ly, adv.
Language Translation for : amusing
Spanish: divertido,
German: amüsant,
Japanese: 面白い
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