Eat for a laugh when talking (6)

I believe the answer is:

ingest

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'eat' is the definition.
(I know that eat is a more specific form of ingest)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ingest that I've seen before include "Absorb, assimilate" , "Scoff" , "Take in with tinges" , "How to take courses" , "Consume food" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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