What (who) is laugh - definition

EXPRESSION OF AMUSEMENT

Snicker; Jajaja; Huhuhu; Snigger; Tittering; Titter; Chuckle; Ja-Ja; Buahaha; Chortles; Laughter therapy; Laughing Fit; Laffing; Laughed; Meaning of laughter; 笑; Risible; Giggling; Guffaw; Laughter in literature; Laugh; Theories of laughter; Titters; Laughs; Laughter in Literature; Giggle; Benefits of laughing; Laughing; Laffter; Hahahahahaha; 🤭

laugh

I. n.

Laughter, cachinnation.

II. v. n.

Cachinnate.

laugh

¦ verb

1. make the sounds and movements that express lively amusement and sometimes also derision.

(laugh at) ridicule; scorn.

2. (laugh something off) dismiss something by treating it in a light-hearted way.

3. (be laughing) informal be in a fortunate or successful position.

¦ noun

1. an act of laughing.

2. (a laugh) informal a person or thing that causes laughter.

Phrases

have the last laugh be finally vindicated.

a laugh a minute very funny.

laugh on the other side of one's face (or N. Amer. out of the other side of one's mouth) be discomfited after feeling confident or triumphant.

laugh someone/thing out of court dismiss someone or something with contempt as being obviously ridiculous.

laugh up one's sleeve be secretly or inwardly amused.

Derivatives

laugher noun

laughing adjective

laughingly adverb

Origin

OE hl?hhan, hliehhan, of Gmc origin.

Laugh

·vt To express by, or utter with, laughter;

- with out.

II. Laugh ·vt To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule.

III. Laugh ·noun An expression of mirth peculiar to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter. ·see Laugh, ·vi.

IV. Laugh ·vi Fig.: To be or appear gay, cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to Sparkle; to Sport.

V. Laugh ·vi To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of the face and eyes, and usually accompanied by the emission of explosive or chuckling sounds from the chest and throat; to indulge in laughter.

Wikipedia

Laughter

Laughter is a pleasant physical reaction and emotion consisting usually of rhythmical, often audible contractions of the diaphragm and other parts of the respiratory system. It is a response to certain external or internal stimuli. Laughter can rise from such activities as being tickled, or from humorous stories or thoughts. Most commonly, it is considered an auditory expression of a number of positive emotional states, such as joy, mirth, happiness, or relief. On some occasions, however, it may be caused by contrary emotional states such as embarrassment, surprise, or confusion such as nervous laughter or courtesy laugh. Age, gender, education, language, and culture are all indicators as to whether a person will experience laughter in a given situation. Some other species of primate (chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans) show laughter-like vocalizations in response to physical contact such as wrestling, play chasing or tickling.

Laughter is a part of human behavior regulated by the brain, helping humans clarify their intentions in social interaction and providing an emotional context to conversations. Laughter is used as a signal for being part of a group—it signals acceptance and positive interactions with others. Laughter is sometimes seen as contagious, and the laughter of one person can itself provoke laughter from others as a positive feedback.

The study of humor and laughter, and its psychological and physiological effects on the human body, is called gelotology.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laughter

Pronunciation examples for laugh