I. ˈlaf, ˈläf verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hliehhan; akin to Old High German lachēn to laugh
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to show emotion (as mirth, joy, or scorn) with a chuckle or explosive vocal sound
b. : to find amusement or pleasure in something
laugh ed at his own clumsiness
c. : to become amused or derisive
a very skeptical public laugh ed at our early efforts — Graenum Berger
2.
a. : to produce the sound or appearance of laughter
a laugh ing brook
b. : to be of a kind that inspires joy
transitive verb
1. : to influence or move by laughter
laugh ed the bad singer off the stage
2. : to utter with a laugh
• laugh·ing·ly ˈla-fiŋ-lē, ˈlä- adverb
II. noun
Date: 1690
1. : the act of laughing
2.
a. : a cause for derision or merriment : joke
b. : an expression of scorn or mockery : jeer
3. plural : diversion , sport
play baseball just for laugh s