(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
When you ~, you make a sound with your throat while smiling and show that you are happy or amused. People also sometimes ~ when they feel nervous or are being unfriendly.
He was about to offer an explanation, but she was beginning to ~...
He ~ed with pleasure when people said he looked like his dad...
The British don’t ~ at the same jokes as the French...
‘I’ll be astonished if I win on Sunday,’ ~ed Lyle.
VERB: V, V with n, V at n, V with quote
•
Laugh is also a noun.
Lysenko gave a deep rumbling ~ at his own joke.
N-COUNT
2.
If people ~ at someone or something, they mock them or make jokes about them.
I thought they were ~ing at me because I was ugly...
VERB: V at n
3.
If you do something for a ~ or for ~s, you do it as a joke or for fun.
They were persuaded onstage for a ~ by their mates...
It’s a project she’s doing for ~s.
PHRASE: PHR with v
4.
If a person or their comment gets a ~ or raises a ~, they make the people listening to them ~. (mainly BRIT)
The joke got a big ~, which encouraged me to continue.
PHRASE: V inflects
5.
If you describe a situation as a ~, a good ~, or a bit of a ~, you think that it is fun and do not take it too seriously. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL)
Working there’s great. It’s quite a good ~ actually...
PHRASE: v-link PHR
6.
If you describe someone as a ~ or a good ~, you like them because they are amusing and fun to be with. (mainly BRIT)
Mickey was a good ~ and great to have in the dressing room.
PHRASE: v-link PHR
7.
If you say that you have the last ~, you mean that you become successful at something so that people who criticize or oppose you look foolish.
Des O’Connor is expecting to have the last ~ on his critics by soaring to the top of the Christmas hit parade.
PHRASE: V inflects
8.
to ~ your head off: see head
no ~ing matter: see matter