laugh ‧ ter /ˈlɑːftə $ ˈlæftər/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ laugh , ↑ laughter ; adverb : ↑ laughably , ↑ laughingly ; verb : ↑ laugh ; adjective : ↑ laughable ]
[ Language: 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 laughter (=laugh very loudly)
Audiences roared with laughter.
He shook with laughter.
peals/gales/howls etc of laughter (=loud laughs)
The comment brought peals of laughter from her classmates.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ burst into laughter (=suddenly start laughing)
Flora burst into laughter when I told her the joke.
▪ roar with laughter (=laugh very noisily)
The crowd roared with laughter.
▪ scream/shriek with laughter (=laugh very noisily and with a high voice)
The children shrieked with laughter as they watched the clown.
▪ shake with laughter
They were shaking with laughter and couldn't even speak.
▪ meet/greet something with laughter (=react to something by laughing)
Her remarks were greeted with mocking laughter.
▪ the laughter dies (down) (=stops)
The laughter died instantly as Robert walked in.
■ phrases
▪ peals/hoots/gales of laughter (=a lot of loud laughter)
This idea was greeted with hoots of laughter.
▪ a fit of laughter (=a period in which you laugh uncontrollably)
Her funny stories had us in fits of laughter.
▪ a burst of laughter (=a short period of loud laughter)
There was a loud burst of laughter behind me.
■ adjectives
▪ hysterical laughter (=laughter that is out of control because someone is very excited, nervous etc)
She burst into hysterical laughter.
▪ helpless laughter (=that someone cannot control)
The audience were in fits of helpless laughter.
▪ nervous laughter (=because someone is nervous and not sure how to react)
Nervous laughter greeted her remarks.
▪ raucous laughter (=loud and rough-sounding)
His attempt to explain was greeted with raucous laughter.
▪ suppressed laughter (=when someone tries not to laugh)
He began to shake with suppressed laughter.