laugh

laugh
laugh [laf, läf]
vi.
[ME laughen < OE hleahhan, akin to Ger lachen (OHG hlahhan) < IE base * klēg-, to cry out, sound > Gr klangē, L clangor]
1. to make the explosive sounds of the voice, and the characteristic movements of the features and body, that express mirth, amusement, ridicule, etc.
2. to be amused
3. to feel or suggest joyousness; appear bright and merry [laughing eyes]
vt.
1. to express or say with laughter
2. to bring about, effect, or cause to be by means of laughter [to laugh oneself hoarse]
n.
1. the act or sound of laughing
2. anything that provokes or is fit to provoke laughter
3. [pl.] Informal mere diversion or pleasure
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have the last laugh
to win after apparent defeat and discomfiture
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laugh at
1. to be amused by
2. to make fun of; ridicule; deride
3. to be indifferent to or contemptuous of; disregard
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laugh away
to get rid of (something unpleasant or embarrassing) by laughter
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laugh down
to silence or suppress by laughing
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laugh up one's sleeve or laugh in one's sleeve
to laugh secretly or inwardly
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laugh off
to scorn, avoid, or reject by laughter or ridicule
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laugh on the other side of one's face or laugh out of the other side of one's face or laugh on the wrong side of one's face or laugh out of the wrong side of one's face or laugh on the other side of one's mouth or laugh out of the other side of one's mouth or laugh on the wrong side of one's mouth or laugh out of the wrong side of one's mouth
to undergo a change in mood from joy to sorrow, from amusement to annoyance, etc.
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no laughing matter
a serious matter
laugher
n.
SYN.- LAUGH is the general word for the sounds or exhalation made in expressing mirth, amusement, etc.; CHUCKLE implies soft laughter in low tones, expressive of mild amusement or inward satisfaction; GIGGLE and TITTER both refer to a half-suppressed laugh consisting of a series of rapid, high-pitched sounds, suggesting embarrassment, silliness, etc., but TITTER is also used of a laugh of mild amusement suppressed in affected politeness; SNICKER is used of a sly, half-suppressed laugh, as at another's discomfiture or a bawdy story; GUFFAW refers to loud, coarse laughter

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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  • Laugh — Laugh, v. t. 1. To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule. [1913 Webster] Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy? Shak. [1913 Webster] I shall laugh myself to death. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To express by, or utter with,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Laugh — (l[aum]f), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Laughed} (l[aum]ft); p. pr. & vb. n. {Laughing}.] [OE. laughen, laghen, lauhen, AS. hlehhan, hlihhan, hlyhhan, hliehhan; akin to OS. hlahan, D. & G. lachen, OHG. hlahhan, lahhan, lahh[=e]n, Icel. hl[ae]ja,W Dan.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • laugh — ► VERB 1) make the sounds and movements that express lively amusement and sometimes also derision. 2) (laugh at) make fun of; ridicule. 3) (laugh off) dismiss by (something) treating it light heartedly. 4) (be laughing) informal be in a fortunate …   English terms dictionary

  • laugh — laugh; laugh·able; laugh·able·ness; laugh·ably; laugh·some; laugh·ter·less; laugh·er; laugh·ter; laugh·ing·ly; …   English syllables

  • Laugh — Laugh, n. An expression of mirth peculiar to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter. See {Laugh}, v. i. [1913 Webster] And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind. Goldsmith. [1913 Webster] That man is a bad man who has not… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • laugh — [v] expressing amusement, happiness with sound be in stitches*, break up*, burst*, cachinnate, chortle, chuckle, convulsed*, crack up*, crow, die laughing*, fracture*, giggle, grin, guffaw, howl, roar, roll in the aisles*, scream, shriek, snicker …   New thesaurus

  • laugh-in — «LAF IHN, LAHF », noun. Informal. a funny or merry act, entertainment, or the like: »Player conducted a laugh in on the practice ground, subduing inner feelings about the fate of his father (London Times) …   Useful english dictionary

  • laugh|y — «LAF ee, LAHF », adjective. inclined to laugh …   Useful english dictionary

  • laugh at — index disdain, disparage, flout, humiliate, jape, jeer, mock (deride), pillory …   Law dictionary

  • laugh at — (someone) to ridicule someone. A lot of kids laughed at me because of the way I dressed, but it never bothered me …   New idioms dictionary

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