I. hu ‧ mour 1 BrE AmE 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
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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. humour 2 BrE AmE 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.