laugh

Meaning

Noun

1. An expression of mirth particular to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter.
2. Something that provokes mirth or scorn.
3. (British, New-Zealand) A fun person.

Verb

1. (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.
2. (figuratively, intransitive, obsolete) To be or appear cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport.
3. (intransitive) To make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun of; to deride; to mock.
4. (transitive) To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule.
5. (transitive) To express by, or utter with, laughter.

Synonyms

smile

😄

laughter

joke

🤣

giggle

ridicule

chuckle

titter

chortle

laughing

😆

cackle

laugh at

snigger

snicker

guffaw

fun

mock

grin

😁

roar

jest

scorn

gag

express joy

deride

frolic

ha-ha

jape

joy

😂

express mirth

ha ha

be in stitches

the sound of laughter

flout

flirt with

yuks

have a good time

high jinks

hoax

hoot

in

hoot

jeer

entertainment

jocularity

detest

jovial

gigle

just for fun

defiance

laugh away

cry

😢

Translations

rire

😆

lachen

😆

lachen

😆

ridere

😆

reír

😆

rir

😆

gülmek

😆

riure

😆

Lachen

risata

γελάω

riso

risa

😆

يهز

Pronounced as (IPA)

/laːf/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: laughen

Inherited from Old English: hlæhhan

Cognate with Scots: lauch

Cognate with Icelandic: hlæja

Cognate with Norwegian: -

Cognate with Swedish: -

Cognate with Danish: le

Cognate with Dutch: lachen

Cognate with German: lachen

Cognate with Ancient Greek: κλώζω

Cognate with Welsh: cloch

Cognate with Latin: glōcīre

In summary

From Middle English laughen, laghen, from (Anglian) Old English hlæhhan, hlehhan, (West Saxon) hliehhan, from Proto-West Germanic *hlahhjan, from Proto-Germanic *hlahjaną.
Cognates
Germanic: (with j-present) Scots lauch, Icelandic hlæja, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish le; (without) Low German lachen, Dutch lachen, German lachen.
Indo-European: Russian клекота́ть (klekotátʹ), клокота́ть (klokotátʹ), клохта́ть (kloxtátʹ) ‘to cluck, cackle’, Ancient Greek κλώζω (klṓzō), κλώσσω (klṓssō) ‘to cackle, clack’, Welsh cloch ‘bell’, possibly Latin glōcīre ‘to cluck’.

Sentences

She did laugh as she saw Heathcliff pass the window .