/ ˈrɪdɪkjuːl; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
[ U ] unkind comments that make fun of sb/sth or make them look silly
SYN mockery :
She is an object of ridicule in the tabloid newspapers.
to hold sb up to ridicule (= make fun of sb publicly)
■ verb
[ vn ] to make sb/sth look silly by laughing at them or it in an unkind way
SYN make fun of
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WORD ORIGIN
late 17th cent.: from French , or from Latin ridiculum , neuter (used as a noun) of ridiculus laughable, from ridere to laugh.