Lexic.us

Definition of Laugh

1. Noun. The sound of laughing.

2. Verb. Produce laughter.

3. Noun. A facial expression characteristic of a person laughing. "His face wrinkled in a silent laugh of derision"

4. Noun. A humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter. "Even a schoolboy's jape is supposed to have some ascertainable point"

Definition of Laugh

1. v. i. 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. v. t. To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule.

3. n. An expression of mirth peculiar to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter. See Laugh, v. i.

Definition of Laugh

1. Noun. An expression of mirth particular to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter. ¹

2. Noun. Something that provokes mirth or scorn. ¹

3. Noun. (U.K.) A fun person. ¹

4. Verb. (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. ¹

5. Verb. (intransitive obsolete figuratively) To be or appear cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport. ¹

6. Verb. (intransitive followed by "at") To make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun of; to deride; to mock. ¹

7. Verb. (transitive) To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule. ¹

8. Verb. (transitive) To express by, or utter with, laughter. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Laugh

1. to express emotion, typically mirth, by a series of inarticulate sounds [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Laugh

1. An expression of mirth peculiar to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter. See Laugh, "And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind." (Goldsmith) "That man is a bad man who has not within him the power of a hearty laugh." (F. W. Robertson) 1. 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. "Queen Hecuba laughed that her eyes ran o'er." (Shak) "He laugheth that winneth." (Heywood's Prov) 2. To be or appear gay, cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport. "Then laughs the childish year, with flowerets crowned." (Dryden) "In Folly's cup still laughs the bubble Joy." (Pope) To laugh at, to make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun of; to deride. "No wit to flatter left of all his store, No fool to laugh at, which he valued more." (Pope) To laugh in the sleeve, to laugh secretly, or so as not to be observed, especially while apparently preserving a grave or serious demeanor toward the person or persons laughed at. To laugh out, to laugh in spite of some restraining influence; to laugh aloud. To laugh out of the other corner (or side) of the mouth, to weep or cry; to feel regret, vexation, or disappointment after hilarity or exaltation. Origin: OE. Laughen, laghen, lauhen, AS. Hlehhan, hlihhan, hlyhhan, hliehhan; akin to OS. Hlahan, D. & G.lachen, OHG. Hlahhan, lahhan, lahhn, Icel. Hlaeja. Dan. Lee, Sw. Le, Goth. Hlahjan; perh. Of imitative origin. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Laugh

laudations laudative laudatives laudator laudators laudatory lauded lauder lauders lauding

laudits lauds laueite lauf laufs laugh (current term) laugh'd laugh a minute laugh all the way to the bank laugh at

laugh away laugh down laugh in one's sleeve laugh like a drain laugh like a hyena laugh line laugh loudly laugh machine laugh off laugh one's head off

Literary usage of Laugh

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Proceedings by National Speech Arts Association (1893)
"Thus it is shown that the laugh may be observed, studied, ... The second sound a makes a good hearty laugh, and generally indicates a cultivated mind ..."

2. Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain (1883)
"As ' SO FULL OP laugh.' a talker, he is bound to clog his narrative with tiresome ... He would be ' so full of laugh ' that he could hardly begin : then his ..."

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