Contents
English
Etymology
From Old English hlæhhan, hlihhan, hliehhan, cognate with Old Norse hlæja (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish le), Old High German hlahhan (German lachen), Gothic 𐌷𐌻𐌰𐌷𐌾𐌰𐌽 (hlahjan).
Pronunciation
- (Australia) IPA: /lɑːf/, SAMPA: /lA:f/
- (UK) IPA: /lɑːf/, SAMPA: /lA:f/
- (US) enPR: lăf, IPA: /læf/, SAMPA: /l{f/
- Audio (US)help, file
- Rhymes: -ɑːf
Noun
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Singular laugh |
Plural laughs |
laugh (plural laughs)
| Examples |
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- An expression of mirth particular to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter.
- 1803 The Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B.: With an Account of His Life Page 45: And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind. — Oliver Goldsmith
- 1869 Lectures and Addresses on Literary and Social Topics Page 87: That man is a bad man who has not within him the power of a hearty laugh. — F. W. Robertson
- Something that provokes mirth or scorn.
- 1921, Ring W. Lardner, The Big Town: How I and the Mrs. Go to New York to See Life and Get Katie a Husband, The Bobbs-Merrill Company, page 73:
- “And this rug,” he says, stomping on an old rag carpet. “How much do you suppose that cost?”
- It was my first guess, so I said fifty dollars.
- “That’s a laugh,” he said. “I paid two thousand for that rug.”
- 1921, Ring W. Lardner, The Big Town: How I and the Mrs. Go to New York to See Life and Get Katie a Husband, The Bobbs-Merrill Company, page 73:
Synonyms
- (expression of mirth): cackle, chortle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, snicker, snigger, titter, cachinnation
- (something that provokes mirth or scorn): joke, laughing stock
Derived terms
- a laugh a minute
- for a laugh
- have a laugh
- have the last laugh
Verb
|
Infinitive to laugh |
Third person singular laughs |
Simple past laughed |
Past participle laughed |
Present participle laughing |
to laugh (third-person singular simple present laughs, present participle laughing, simple past and past participle laughed)
- (intransitive) 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.
- (A date for this quote is being sought): Queen Hecuba laughed that her eyes ran o’er. — Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, I-ii
- (A date for this quote is being sought): He laugheth that winneth. — Heywood’s Prov.
- (intransitive, figuratively) To be or appear cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport.
- (A date for this quote is being sought): Then laughs the childish year, with flowerets crowned. — John Dryden
- (A date for this quote is being sought): In Folly’s cup still laughs the bubble Joy. — Alexander Pope
- (intransitive) To laugh at, to make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun of; to deride.
- (A date for this quote is being sought): No wit to flatter left of all his store, No fool to laugh at, which he valued more. — Alexander Pope
- (transitive) To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule.
- (A date for this quote is being sought): Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy? — Shakespeare, Tempest, II-i
- (A date for this quote is being sought): I shall laugh myself to death. — Shakespeare, Tempest, II-ii
- (transitive) To express by, or utter with, laughter; — with out.
- (A date for this quote is being sought): From his deep chest laughs out a loud applause. — Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, I-iii
Synonyms
- (show mirth by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face): cackle, chortle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, snicker, snigger, titter
- See also Wikisaurus:laugh
Antonyms
Derived terms
- he who laughs last laughs best
- he who laughs last laughs longest
- laugh away
- laugh down
- laughing
- laugh in someone's face
- laugh in the sleeve
- laugh off
- laugh one out of
- laugh on the other side of one's face
- laugh out, laugh out loud
- laugh out of the other corner of the mouth, laugh out of the other side of the mouth
- laugh to scorn
- laugh track
- laugh up one’s sleeve
Related terms
Translations
show mirth by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face and emission of sounds
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Note: the following were in a translation table for "be or appear gay", which, given the modern meanings, is misleading; the title of this table has now been changed to "be or appear cheerful". The translations therefore need to be checked.
- Slovene: nasmejan (biti)
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What is is psychologically that makes you laugh when you know you shouldnt?
Q. Have you ever played a staring game when you were younger, and the point was that you could not smile or laugh, and then you both busted out laughing? What about when you are somewhere and you see someone who looks hilarious.. you laugh even though you know its wrong. What makes you laugh when you shouldn't? Are we just triggered to? Sometimes if someone says something funny, and then goes on to something more serious I can't stop laughing if it was really funny while they are talking about something serious because it will replay in my head. lol. Don't think about laughing right now.. are you at least smiling?
Asked by Brigitte L - Tue Feb 12 14:49:53 2008 - - 5 Answers - 0 Comments
A. small children falling. gets me every time. it's hilarious. everything about it. the look on their faces, the way their chubby little bodies bounce. i mean they never really get hurt unless it's a serious fall so i try not to feel too bad about it. and usually if they see you laughing they start to laugh too. oh but yeah i dont' know where it comes from. but the more you try not to, the funnier it gets!
Answered by buffalove - Tue Feb 12 14:54:02 2008
Q. Have you ever played a staring game when you were younger, and the point was that you could not smile or laugh, and then you both busted out laughing? What about when you are somewhere and you see someone who looks hilarious.. you laugh even though you know its wrong. What makes you laugh when you shouldn't? Are we just triggered to? Sometimes if someone says something funny, and then goes on to something more serious I can't stop laughing if it was really funny while they are talking about something serious because it will replay in my head. lol. Don't think about laughing right now.. are you at least smiling?
Asked by Brigitte L - Tue Feb 12 14:49:53 2008 - - 5 Answers - 0 Comments
A. small children falling. gets me every time. it's hilarious. everything about it. the look on their faces, the way their chubby little bodies bounce. i mean they never really get hurt unless it's a serious fall so i try not to feel too bad about it. and usually if they see you laughing they start to laugh too. oh but yeah i dont' know where it comes from. but the more you try not to, the funnier it gets!
Answered by buffalove - Tue Feb 12 14:54:02 2008
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