laugh

== English == === Alternative forms === laff (eye dialect) laughe (archaic) larf (Cockney eye dialect) === Etymology === From Middle English laughen, laghen, from (Anglian) Old English hlæhhan, hlehhan, (West Saxon) hliehhan, from Proto-West Germanic *hlahhjan, from Proto-Germanic *hlahjaną. === Pronunciation === (General Australian) IPA(key): /lɐːf/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /lɑːf/ (Northern England, Scotland) IPA(key): /laf/ (General American) enPR: lăf, IPA(key): /læf/ Rhymes: -ɑːf, -æf === Noun === laugh (plural laughs) An expression of mirth particular to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter. Something that provokes mirth or scorn. (UK, New Zealand) A fun person. a good laugh 2010, The Times, March 14, 2010, Tamzin Outhwaite, the unlikely musical star Outhwaite is a good laugh, yes, she knows how to smile: but deep down, she really is strong and stern. ==== Synonyms ==== (expression of mirth): cackle, chortle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, snicker, snigger, titter, cachinnation (something that provokes mirth or scorn): joke, laughing stock ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Verb === 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. (intransitive, figuratively, obsolete) To be or appear cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport. (intransitive, followed by "at") To make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun of; to deride; to mock. (transitive) To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule. (transitive) To express by, or utter with, laughter. ==== Usage notes ==== The simple past tense forms laught, laugh'd and low and the past participles laught, laugh'd and laughen also exist, but are obsolete. ==== Conjugation ==== ==== Synonyms ==== (show mirth by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face): cackle, chortle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, snicker, snigger, titter See also Thesaurus:laugh ==== Antonyms ==== (antonym(s) of “show mirth by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face”): cry, weep ==== Coordinate terms ==== (show mirth by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face): cry, frown, scowl, smile ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== laughster laughter ==== 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: (please verify) nasmejan (biti) === See also === comedy gelotology funny ha ha tee hee, tee hee hee === Anagrams === Aghul == Middle English == === Noun === laugh alternative form of lawe