\Rid"i*cule\, n. [F. ridicule, L. ridiculum a jest, fr.
ridiculus. See {Ridiculous}.]
1. An object of sport or laughter; a laughingstock; a
   laughing matter.
         [Marlborough] was so miserably ignorant, that his
         deficiencies made him the ridicule of his
         contemporaries.                       --Buckle.
         To the people . . . but a trifle, to the king but a
         ridicule.                             --Foxe.
2. Remarks concerning a subject or a person designed to
   excite laughter with a degree of contempt; wit of that
   species which provokes contemptuous laughter;
   disparagement by making a person an object of laughter;
   banter; -- a term lighter than derision.
         We have in great measure restricted the meaning of
         ridicule, which would properly extend over whole
         region of the ridiculous, -- the laughable, -- and
         we have narrowed it so that in common usage it
         mostly corresponds to ``derision'', which does
         indeed involve personal and offensive feelings.
                                               --Hare.
         Safe from the bar, the pulpit, and the throne, Yet
         touched and shamed by ridicule alone. --Pope.
3. Quality of being ridiculous; ridiculousness. [Obs.]
         To see the ridicule of this practice. --Addison.
Syn: Derision; banter; raillery; burlesque; mockery; irony;
     satire; sarcasm; gibe; jeer; sneer.
Usage: {Ridicule}, {Derision}, Both words imply
       disapprobation; but ridicule usually signifies
       good-natured, fun-loving opposition without manifest
       malice, while derision is commonly bitter and
       scornful, and sometimes malignant.

\Rid"i*cule\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ridiculed};p. pr. &
vb. n. {Ridiculing}.]
To laugh at mockingly or disparagingly; to awaken ridicule
toward or respecting.
      I 've known the young, who ridiculed his rage.
                                               --Goldsmith.
Syn: To deride; banter; rally; burlesque; mock; satirize;
     lampoon. See {Deride}.

\Rid"i*cule\, a. [F.]
Ridiculous. [Obs.]
      This action . . . became so ridicule.    --Aubrey.