/ lɑːf; NAmE læf/ verb , noun
■ verb
1.
laugh (at / about) to make the sounds and movements of your face that show you are happy or think sth is funny :
[ v ]
to laugh loudly / aloud / out loud
You never laugh at my jokes!
The show was hilarious—I couldn't stop laughing.
She always makes me laugh .
He burst out laughing (= suddenly started laughing) .
She laughed to cover her nervousness.
I told him I was worried but he laughed scornfully.
[ v speech ]
'You're crazy!' she laughed.
2.
[ v ] be laughing ( informal ) used to say that you are in a very good position, especially because you have done sth successfully :
If we win the next game we'll be laughing.
•
IDIOMS
- don't make me laugh
- he who laughs last laughs longest
- laugh all the way to the bank
- laugh in sb's face
- laugh like a drain
- laugh on the other side of your face
- laugh sb/sth out of court
- laugh till / until you cry
- laugh up your sleeve (at sb/sth)
- laugh your head off
- not know whether to laugh or cry
- you have / you've got to laugh
—more at kill verb , piss verb
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- laugh at sb/sth
- laugh sth off
■ noun
1.
[ C ] the sound you make when you are amused or happy :
to give a laugh
a short / nervous / hearty laugh
His first joke got the biggest laugh of the night.
—see also belly laugh
2.
a laugh [ sing. ] ( informal ) an enjoyable and amusing occasion or thing that happens :
Come to the karaoke night—it should be a good laugh.
And he didn't realize it was you? What a laugh!
3.
a laugh [ sing. ] a person who is amusing and fun to be with :
Paula's a good laugh, isn't she?
•
IDIOMS
- do sth for a laugh / for laughs
- have a (good) laugh (about sth)
—more at barrel noun , last determiner
••
VOCABULARY BUILDING
different ways of laughing
cackle to laugh in a loud, unpleasant way, especially in a high voice
chuckle to laugh quietly, especially because you are thinking about something funny
giggle to laugh in a silly way because you are amused, embarrassed or nervous
guffaw to laugh noisily
roar to laugh very loudly
snigger / snicker to laugh in a quiet unpleasant way, especially at something rude or at someone's problems or mistakes
titter to laugh quietly, especially in a nervous or embarrassed way
You can also be convulsed with laughter or dissolve into laughter when you find something very funny. In BrE people also shriek with laughter or howl with laughter .
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English hlæhhan , hliehhan , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German lachen , also to laughter .