laughter

laughter
laugh·ter (lafґtər) a series of spasmodic and partly involuntary exhalations with inarticulate vocalization, normally indicative of merriment; it may also be a hysteric manifestation or a reflex result of tickling. See also gelasmus and risus.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Laughter — Laugh ter, n. [AS. hleahtor; akin to OHG. hlahtar, G. gel[ a]chter, Icel. hl[=a]tr, Dan. latter. See {Laugh}, v. i. ] A movement (usually involuntary) of the muscles of the face, particularly of the lips, with a peculiar expression of the eyes,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • laughter — [laf′tər, läf′tər] n. [ME < OE hleahtor (akin to Ger gelächter) < base of hleahhan, to LAUGH] 1. the action of laughing or the sound resulting 2. an indication of amusement [with laughter in her eyes] 3. Archaic a matter for or cause of… …   English World dictionary

  • laughter — late 14c., from O.E. hleahtor, from P.Gmc. *hlahtraz (Cf. O.N. hlatr, Dan. latter, O.H.G. lahtar, Ger. Gelächter); see LAUGH (Cf. laugh) (v.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • laughter — ► NOUN ▪ the action or sound of laughing …   English terms dictionary

  • Laughter — For other uses, see Laughter (disambiguation). Laugh redirects here. For other uses, see Laugh (disambiguation). Snicker redirects here. For other uses, see Snickers (disambiguation). A man laughing Laughing is a reaction to certain stimuli,… …   Wikipedia

  • laughter — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ hearty, helpless, hysterical, insane, loud, maniacal (esp. AmE), raucous, uncontrollable, uproarious, wild …   Collocations dictionary

  • laughter — Synonyms and related words: Homeric laughter, amusement, belly laugh, boff, boffola, burst of laughter, cachinnation, cackle, chortle, chortling, chuckle, convulsion, crow, fit of laughter, frivolity, fun, gales of laughter, giggle, glee,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • laughter — n. 1) to cause, provoke laughter 2) contagious, infectious; convulsive; derisive; hearty, loud, raucous, uproarious; sardonic; subdued laughter 3) a burst, fit, gale; ripple of laughter 4) (misc.) to double up with laughter * * * [ lɑːftə]… …   Combinatory dictionary

  • laughter — laugh|ter [ˈla:ftə US ˈlæftər] n [U] [: Old English; Origin: hleahtor] when people laugh, or the sound of people laughing ▪ Foster joined in the laughter. ▪ He looked shocked, then burst into laughter (=started laughing) . roar/scream/shriek with …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • laughter — [[t]lɑ͟ːftə(r), læ̱f [/t]] ♦♦♦ 1) N UNCOUNT Laughter is the sound of people laughing, for example because they are amused or happy. Their laughter filled the corridor... He delivered the line perfectly, and everybody roared with laughter.… …   English dictionary

  • laughter — We laugh at things that are laughable, but also laugh exultantly at a success, or bitterly at a failure, or at the unexpected or even the typical. We may even laugh but not at anything with pure joy, or nervousness, or embarrassment, or merely… …   Philosophy dictionary

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