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.
...hysterical laughter.
Synonyms: chuckling, laughing, giggling, chortling More Synonyms of laughter
2. uncountable noun
Laughter is the fact of laughing, or the feeling of fun and amusement that you have when you are laughing.
Pantomime is about bringing laughter to thousands.
My interests: eating out, fun nights in, music and laughter.
Synonyms: amusement, entertainment, humour, glee More Synonyms of laughter
laughter in British English
(ˈlɑːftə)
noun
1.
the action of or noise produced by laughing
2.
the experience or manifestation of mirth, amusement, scorn, or joy
Word origin
Old English hleahtor; related to Old Norse hlātr
laughter in American English
(ˈlæftər; ˈlɑftər)
noun
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 laughter
Word origin
ME < OE hleahtor (akin to Ger gelächter) < base of hleahhan, to laugh
COBUILD Collocations
laughter
canned laughter
mocking laughter
nervous laughter
Examples of 'laughter' in a sentence
laughter
She gave fun and laughter to our lives for 14 years.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Together they yield laughter, tears and sheer delight in a bespoke production that can send you out on a high.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The Bake Off family have given me so much joy and laughter.
The Sun (2016)
His family said that he was'like a beautiful angel' whose short life brought joy and laughter.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Holidays should be magical - full of fun and laughter - especially when you go with the whole family.
The Sun (2016)
The music was cut off and there was just the sound of laughter.
The Sun (2011)
There was just chaos and noise and laughter.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We know that tears and laughter come from recognition.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There are times of laughter and joy with songs and music and drama.
Davey, Ray Rev. & Cole, John A Channel of Peace (1993)
Wealth is discernible in the pale laughter lines set in a deep mahogany tan.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We can only hope that hysterical laughter will make a comeback.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
There was laughter and tears and wonder and mystery.
Bain, Roly Fools Rush In - A Call to Christian Clowning (1993)
There was fun and laughter along with pride and tears.
The Sun (2009)
The other end of the phone line exploded into laughter.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She felt hysterical laughter building up inside herself.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
It came out with what sounded like canned laughter from a dopey sitcom.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We experienced both laughter and tears.
Christianity Today (2000)
You could also use a fairground, full of laughter and music.
Trickett, Shirley Coming Off Tranquillizers and Sleeping Pills (1991)
We have to express ourselves, to share in laughter and joy.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Today that laughter must be music in Taliban ears.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This was not a day of joy and laughter, but one of sermons and solemnity.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It was actually a positive experience, because laughter really lifts you.
The Sun (2014)
I spent my time in coffee houses or beer gardens with other students where there was constant noise and laughter.
Paige, Frances The Glasgow Girls (1994)
That all these things prompt laughter is a happy fact about human beings, given how much cause they have to weep too.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
I miss the noise and the laughter but at least I have the memories.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Quotations
Laughter is pleasant, but the exertion is too much for meThomas Love PeacockNightmare Abbey
Delight hath a joy in it either permanent or pleasant. Laughter hath only a scornful ticklingSir Philip SidneyThe Defence of Poetry
If we may believe our logicians, man is distinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of laughterJoseph Addison
The only honest art form is laughter, comedy. You can't fake it ... try to fake three laughs in an hour - ha ha ha ha ha - they'll take you away, man. You can'tLenny BrucePerforming and the Art of Comedy
As the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of a foolBible: Ecclesiastes
In other languages
laughter
British English: laughter /ˈlɑːftə/ NOUN
Laughter is the sound of people laughing.
Everybody roared with laughter.
American English: laughter
Arabic: ضَحِكٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: risada
Chinese: 笑声
Croatian: smijeh
Czech: smích
Danish: latter
Dutch: gelach
European Spanish: risas
Finnish: nauru
French: rire
German: Gelächter
Greek: γέλιο
Italian: ridere
Japanese: 笑い声
Korean: 웃음
Norwegian: munterhet
Polish: śmiech
European Portuguese: risada
Romanian: râset
Russian: смех
Latin American Spanish: risas
Swedish: skratt
Thai: เสียงหัวเราะ
Turkish: kahkaha
Ukrainian: регіт
Vietnamese: tiếng cười
All related terms of 'laughter'
laughter club
a group of people who meet regularly to take part in communal laughing for therapeutic effect
laughter line
a wrinkle near the outer corner of the eye, as if left from smiling or laughing
canned laughter
Laughter is the sound of people laughing , for example because they are amused or happy .
laughter lines
Laughter lines are the same as → laugh lines .
laughter track
A track is one of the songs or pieces of music on a recording .
Homeric laughter
loud unrestrained laughter , as that of the gods
mocking laughter
Laughter is the sound of people laughing , for example because they are amused or happy .
nervous laughter
Laughter is the sound of people laughing , for example because they are amused or happy .
Chinese translation of 'laughter'
laughter
(ˈlɑːftəʳ)
n(u)
笑声(聲) (xiàoshēng)
All related terms of 'laughter'
gales of laughter
阵(陣)阵(陣)笑声(聲) zhènzhèn xiàoshēng
roar of laughter
大笑声(聲) dàxiàoshēng
a hoot of laughter
呵呵大笑 hēhē dàxiào
to hoot with laughter
呵呵大笑 hēhē dàxiào
to roar with laughter
哈哈大笑 hāhā dàxiào
to shriek with laughter
尖声(聲)大笑 jiān shēng dà xiào
to shake with fear/rage/laughter
( person ) 怕/气(氣)/笑得发(發)抖 pà/qì/xiào de fādǒu
to be doubled up with pain/laughter
痛得/笑得弯(彎)下了身 tòng de/xiào de wānxiàle shēn
to dissolve in(to) tears/laughter
情不自禁地流泪(淚)/大笑起来(來) qíng bù zì jīn de liúlèi/dàxiào qǐlái
to kill o.s. (laughing or with laughter)
( inf : fig ) 笑得前仰后(後)合 xiào de qián yǎng hòu hé
1 (noun)
Definition
the action or noise of laughing
Their laughter filled the corridor.
Synonyms
chuckling
laughing
giggling
chortling
guffawing
tittering
cachinnation
2 (noun)
Definition
the action or noise of laughing
She was a woman who brought laughter to millions.
Synonyms
amusement
He watched with amusement to see the child so absorbed.
entertainment
I play the piano purely for my own entertainment.
humour
She couldn't ignore the humour of the situation.
glee
His victory was greeted with glee.
fun
You still have time to join in the fun.
mirth
That caused considerable mirth amongst the pupils.
hilarity
The report in the local paper caught the mood of hilarity.
merriment
He jokes and ad-libs, to the general merriment of the audience.
Quotations
Laughter is pleasant, but the exertion is too much for me [Thomas Love Peacock – Nightmare Abbey]Delight hath a joy in it either permanent or pleasant. Laughter hath only a scornful tickling [Sir Philip Sidney – The Defence of Poetry]If we may believe our logicians, man is distinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of laughter [Joseph Addison]The only honest art form is laughter, comedy. You can't fake it ... try to fake three laughs in an hour - ha ha ha ha ha - they'll take you away, man. You can't [Lenny Bruce – Performing and the Art of Comedy]As the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of a fool [Bible: Ecclesiastes]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of entertainment
Definition
enjoyment and interest
I play the piano purely for my own entertainment.
Synonyms
enjoyment,
fun,
pleasure,
leisure,
satisfaction,
relaxation,
recreation,
distraction,
amusement,
diversion
in the sense of fun
Definition
pleasant, enjoyable, and light-hearted activity or amusement
You still have time to join in the fun.
Synonyms
amusement,
sport,
treat,
pleasure,
entertainment,
cheer,
good time,
recreation,
enjoyment,
romp,
distraction,
diversion,
frolic,
junketing,
merriment,
whoopee (informal),
high jinks,
living it up,
jollity,
beer and skittles (informal),
merrymaking,
jollification (old-fashioned)
in the sense of glee
Definition
great merriment or joy, esp. caused by the misfortune of another person
His victory was greeted with glee.
Synonyms
delight,
joy,
triumph,
exuberance,
elation,
exhilaration,
mirth,
hilarity,
merriment,
exultation,
gladness,
joyfulness,
joyousness
Synonyms of 'laughter'
laughter
Explore 'laughter' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of hilarity
The report in the local paper caught the mood of hilarity.
Synonyms
merriment,
high spirits,
mirth,
gaiety (old-fashioned),
laughter,
amusement,
glee,
exuberance,
exhilaration,
cheerfulness,
jollity,
levity,
conviviality,
joviality,
boisterousness,
joyousness,
jollification
in the sense of humour
Definition
the quality of being funny
She couldn't ignore the humour of the situation.
Synonyms
comedy,
funniness,
fun,
amusement,
funny side,
jocularity,
facetiousness,
ludicrousness,
drollery,
comical aspect
in the sense of merriment
He jokes and ad-libs, to the general merriment of the audience.
Synonyms
fun,
amusement,
glee,
mirth,
sport,
laughter,
festivity,
frolic,
gaiety (old-fashioned),
hilarity,
revelry,
jollity,
levity,
liveliness,
conviviality,
joviality,
jocularity,
merrymaking
in the sense of mirth
Definition
laughter, gaiety, or merriment
That caused considerable mirth amongst the pupils.