laughter

laugh-ter · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    The action or sound of laughing.

  2. 2.

    A manner of laughing.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    roar with laughter — Laugh very loudly.
  • •
    burst into laughter — Suddenly start laughing.
  • •
    laughter is the best medicine — Humor is good for health and well-being.
  • •
    die of laughter — Laugh extremely hard (hyperbolic).
  • •
    roll on the floor laughing — Laugh uncontrollably.
  • •
    canned laughter — Pre-recorded laughter used in TV shows.

Related words

Antonyms: crying, tears, weeping
See also: comedy, humor, joke, laugh, laughing
Synonyms: amusement, hilarity, merriment, mirth

Etymology

From Old English hleahtor, from the same root as hlæhhan ("to laugh"), from Proto-Germanic hlahtraz. Related to German Gelächter and Old Norse hlátr. The spelling developed to reflect the pronunciation with a silent "gh."