Ludicrous

WOTD - 19 February 2008    

English

Etymology

First attested in 1619. From Latin lūdicrus < lūdō (“‘play’”).

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈluː.dɪ.krəs/, /ˈljuː.dɪ.krəs/, SAMPA: /"lu:.dI.kr@s/
• (US) IPA: /ˈluː.dɪ.krəs/

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Adjective

Ludicrous (comparative {{{1}}}, superlative {{{2}}})

Positive Ludicrous

Comparative {{{1}}}

Superlative {{{2}}}

1. Idiotic or unthinkable, often to the point of being funny.

   He made a ludicrous attempt to run for office.

Synonyms

• (idiotic or unthinkable): laughable, ridiculous

Translations

idiotic or unthinkable, often to the point of being funny

Finnish: älytön fi(fi), naurettava fi(fi) German: aberwitzig de(de) Hebrew: מגוחך he(he) (megoḥaḥ) m. Italian: ridicolo it(it) Polish: idiotyczny pl(pl) m., niedorzeczny pl(pl) m., absurdalny pl(pl) m., groteskowy pl(pl) m.

Russian: нелепый ru(ru), абсурдный ru(ru), смехотворный ru(ru) Scottish Gaelic: amaideach gd(gd) Spanish: irrisorio es(es), absurdo es(es) Swedish: löjlig, skrattretande, absurd

Related terms

idiotic or unthinkable

• ludicrously
• ludicrousness