jape

UK: /dʒeɪp/ US: ( jāp)

Inflections of 'jape' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

japes

v 3rd person singular

japing

v pres p

japed

v past

japed

v past p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

jape  ( jāp), v., japed, jap•ing, n. 
v.i. 

1. to jest;
   joke;
   gibe.

v.t. 

2. to mock or make fun of.

n. 

3. a joke;
   jest;
   quip.
4. a trick or practical joke.

• Old French jap(p)er to bark, of imitative origin, originally
• Middle English japen, perh. 1300–50

jap′er, n. 
jap′er•y, n. 
jap′ing•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

jape / dʒeɪp/ noun

1. a jest or joke

verb

1. to joke or jest (about)

Etymology: 14th Century: perhaps from Old French japper to bark, yap, of imitative origin

ˈjaper noun

ˈjapery noun