Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [kloun]
- /klaʊn/
- /klaʊn/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [kloun]
- /klaʊn/
Definitions of clowning word
- noun clowning clownish behaviour 3
- noun clowning a comic performer, as in a circus, theatrical production, or the like, who wears an outlandish costume and makeup and entertains by pantomiming common situations or actions in exaggerated or ridiculous fashion, by juggling or tumbling, etc. 1
- noun clowning a person who acts like a clown; comedian; joker; buffoon; jester. 1
- noun clowning a prankster; a practical joker. 1
- noun clowning Slang. a coarse, ill-bred person; a boor. 1
- noun clowning a peasant; rustic. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of clowning
First appearance:
before 1555 One of the 31% oldest English words
1555-65; earlier cloyne, clowne, perhaps akin to Old Norse klunni boor, Danish dialect klunds, Swedish dialect klunn log
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Clowning
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
clowning popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 96% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
clowning usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for clowning
noun clowning
- joking — something said or done to provoke laughter or cause amusement, as a witticism, a short and amusing anecdote, or a prankish act: He tells very funny jokes. She played a joke on him.
- buffoonery — Buffoonery is foolish behaviour that makes you laugh.
- tomfoolery — foolish or silly behavior; tomfoolishness.
- horseplay — rough or boisterous play or pranks.
- comedy — Comedy consists of types of entertainment, such as plays and films, or particular scenes in them, that are intended to make people laugh.
Antonyms for clowning
noun clowning
- seriousness — of, showing, or characterized by deep thought.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with c
- Words starting with cl
- Words starting with clo
- Words starting with clow
- Words starting with clown
- Words starting with clowni
- Words starting with clownin
- Words starting with clowning