humour

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++hu·mour1 British English, humor American English /ˈhjuːmə $ ˈhjuːmər, ˈjuː-/ ●●○ noun [uncountable]  1  FUNNYthe ability or tendency to think that things are funny, or funny things you say that show you have this ability 幽默感；幽默的话 his humour and charm 他的幽默感和魅力 Greg’s feeble attempt at humour 格雷格干巴巴的幽默 English humour 英国式幽默 It’s vital to have a sense of humor in this job. 做这份工作必须具备幽默感。 The host puts the contestants at ease with his own brand of humour. 主持人以他别具一格的幽默让参赛者放松心情。 He showed flashes of humor that delighted the audience. 他不时冒出些幽默话逗得观众忍俊不禁。2  FUNNYthe quality in something that makes it funny and makes people laugh 幽默之处，风趣 He failed to see the humour of the situation. 他看不出这一幕的幽默之处。3. in a good/an ill/a bad humour formalHAPPYBAD-TEMPERED in a good or bad mood 心情好/坏 → good humour4. out of humour British English old-fashionedBAD-TEMPERED in a bad mood 心情不好n COLLOCATIONS – Meanings 1 & 2phrasesa sense of humourI'm afraid my dad doesn't have a very good sense of humour.somebody's brand of humour (=the type of jokes, funny stories etc that a particular person likes or tells)Their brand of humour isn't to everyone's taste.a flash/trace/touch of humour (=a very small amount of humour)She replied with a rare flash of humour.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + humour black/dark humour (=jokes, funny stories etc about the unpleasant parts of life)The tone of the film is light but there are moments of black humour.gallows humour (=jokes, funny stories etc which make very unpleasant or dangerous things seem funny)It was the kind of gallows humor that medical students love.schoolboy humour (=jokes, funny stories etc that are silly and rude but not offensive)The schoolboy humour appealed to him.dry/deadpan humour (=when someone makes it seem as if they are being serious, but really they are being funny)His serious demeanour lends itself to deadpan humour.wry humour (=when someone makes something seem both funny and sad)He wrote with wry humour about his time in a Turkish prison.gentle humour (=jokes or stories that do not offend anyone)The plays uses gentle humor to make a strong point.self-deprecating humour (=jokes, funny stories etc in which you criticize or make fun of yourself)Her self-deprecating humour made the audience howl with laughter.verbssee/appreciate the humour (=understand that something is funny)I may have been wet and covered in mud, but I could still see the humour in the situation.

Examples from the Corpus

humour• But in London it brought belly laughs with a bawdy display of music hall humour and saucy songs.• His flashes of light-hearted humour were commonly tinged with an awesome critical irony.• There was not a jot of humour in the man.• Do the best you can, hope for the best with the unpredictable and try to keep a sense of humour.• In character he was kindly, genial, and modest, with an abundant sense of humour.• He is immensely strong, but also shyly gentle and has great sense of humour.• The two types of humour perform opposing functions, pull in opposite directions.• Everyone laughed except Dad, who obviously didn't appreciate the humour of the situation.• This is the humour that does not heal, the sort that encourages hatred of outsiders.brand of humour• Presenter, Jim Bowen, puts the contestants at ease with his own brand of humour.• I was by no means immune from this brand of humour.humour2 British English, humor American English verb [transitive]  AGREEto do what someone wants or to pretend to agree with them so that they do not become upset 迁就，迎合 ‘Of course, ’ he said, humouring her. “当然了。”他迎合着她的意思说道。→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

humour• Shana was forced to resort to humouring me rather than getting into arguments with me.• I want the police to look for her, not humour me.• She wasn't even going to humour Mrs Fanshawe any more.• Children go through defined periods of oppositional behaviour and may need humouring out of them.• I humoured the old lady, who soon went on her way.

hu·mour1 noun →n COLLOCATIONS1humour2 verbLDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable  

Corpus to things tendency or think the are ability that

humour

I

hu‧mour¹ British English, humor American English /ˈhjuːmə $ ˈhjuːmər, ˈjuː-/ noun [uncountable]
1. the ability or tendency to think that things are funny, or funny things you say that show you have this ability:
    his humour and charm
    Greg’s feeble attempt at humour
    English humour
    It’s vital to have a sense of humor in this job.
    The host puts the contestants at ease with his own brand of humour.
    He showed flashes of humor that delighted the audience.
2. the quality in something that makes it funny and makes people laugh:
    He failed to see the humour of the situation.
3. in a good/an ill/a bad humour formal in a good or bad mood ⇨ good humour
4. out of humour British English old-fashioned in a bad mood
     

COLLOCATIONS

(for Meanings 1 & 2)

■ phrases
   ▪ a sense of humour I'm afraid my dad doesn't have a very good sense of humour.
   ▪ somebody's brand of humour (=the type of jokes, funny stories etc that a particular person likes or tells) Their brand of humour isn't to everyone's taste.
   ▪ a flash/trace/touch of humour (=a very small amount of humour) She replied with a rare flash of humour.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + humour
   ▪ black/dark humour (=jokes, funny stories etc about the unpleasant parts of life) The tone of the film is light but there are moments of black humour.
   ▪ gallows humour (=jokes, funny stories etc which make very unpleasant or dangerous things seem funny) It was the kind of gallows humor that medical students love.
   ▪ schoolboy humour (=jokes, funny stories etc that are silly and rude but not offensive) The schoolboy humour appealed to him.
   ▪ dry/deadpan humour (=when someone makes it seem as if they are being serious, but really they are being funny) His serious demeanour lends itself to deadpan humour.
   ▪ wry humour (=when someone makes something seem both funny and sad) He wrote with wry humour about his time in a Turkish prison.
   ▪ gentle humour (=jokes or stories that do not offend anyone) The plays uses gentle humor to make a strong point.
   ▪ self-deprecating humour (=jokes, funny stories etc in which you criticize or make fun of yourself) Her self-deprecating humour made the audience howl with laughter.
■ verbs
   ▪ see/appreciate the humour (=understand that something is funny) I may have been wet and covered in mud, but I could still see the humour in the situation.

II

humour² British English, humor American English verb [transitive]
to do what someone wants or to pretend to agree with them so that they do not become upset:
    ‘Of course,’ he said, humouring her.