prank

[pɹæŋk]

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A prank is a playful trick or joke that someone plays on another person. It's usually not mean-spirited, but can be annoying if it's done too often.

When we talk about pranks, we often think of silly and harmless things like putting clear wrap across a doorway so someone will trip over it, or filling a friend's room with balloons. These kinds of pranks are meant to be light-hearted and make people laugh. Some people might also get caught up in playing tricks on others as a way to test how well they can keep a secret or see who gets embarrassed first.

How common is "prank"?

Word prank is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.

Definitions

noun

A practical joke or mischievous trick.
Example: He pulled a gruesome prank on his sister.
An evil deed; a malicious trick, an act of cruel deception.

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verb

To perform a practical joke on; to trick.
To call someone's phone and promptly hang up
Example: Hey man, prank me when you wanna get picked up.
To adorn in a showy manner; to dress or equip ostentatiously.
To make ostentatious show.

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