ANTIC

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does antic mean? 

• ANTIC (noun)
  The noun ANTIC has 1 sense:

1. a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement

  Familiarity information: ANTIC used as a noun is very rare.

• ANTIC (adjective)
  The adjective ANTIC has 1 sense:

1. ludicrously odd

  Familiarity information: ANTIC used as an adjective is very rare.

• ANTIC (verb)
  The verb ANTIC has 1 sense:

1. act as or like a clown

  Familiarity information: ANTIC used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ANTIC (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

antic; caper; joke; prank; put-on; trick

Hypernyms ("antic" is a kind of...):

diversion; recreation (an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "antic"):

dirty trick (an unkind or aggressive trick)

practical joke (a prank or trick played on a person (especially one intended to make the victim appear foolish))

Derivation:

antic (act as or like a clown)

antic (ludicrously odd)

• ANTIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Ludicrously odd

Synonyms:

antic; fantastic; fantastical; grotesque

Context example:

a grotesque reflection in the mirror

Similar:

strange; unusual (being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird)

Derivation:

antic (a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement)

• ANTIC (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Act as or like a clown

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

antic; clown; clown around

Hypernyms (to "antic" is one way to...):

jest; joke (act in a funny or teasing way)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

antic (a ludicrous or grotesque act done for fun and amusement)

 Context examples 

They spoiled the music just the same, with their antics and unrealities.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He did not appear even amused at the other’s antics.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

This passed away as the puppies' antics and mauling continued, and he lay with half-shut patient eyes, drowsing in the sun.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

His honour had further observed, “that a female Yahoo would often stand behind a bank or a bush, to gaze on the young males passing by, and then appear, and hide, using many antic gestures and grimaces, at which time it was observed that she had a most offensive smell; and when any of the males advanced, would slowly retire, looking often back, and with a counterfeit show of fear, run off into some convenient place, where she knew the male would follow her.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

I think that I can help you to pass an hour in an interesting and profitable manner, said Holmes, drawing his chair up to the table, and spreading out in front of him the various papers upon which were recorded the antics of the dancing men.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She quit her antics, and quieted down for a long minute.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

This was immediately granted, and we all three entered the gate of the palace between two rows of guards, armed and dressed after a very antic manner, and with something in their countenances that made my flesh creep with a horror I cannot express.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

If I had, I could have wept sentimental tears to-night, and the clownish antics of that precious pair would have but enhanced the beauty of their voices and the beauty of the accompanying orchestra.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)