laugh
/lɑːf
/verb [no object]
1Make the spontaneous sounds and movements of the face and body that are the instinctive expressions of lively amusement and sometimes also of derision: he rarely smiled or laughed she couldn’t help laughing at his jokes we fell about laughing...
- I told her she had already sent one and she laughed and said her memory was going.
- Your excitement was infectious as you laughed and gasped as we were whirled and twisted.
- We laughed, we flirted and we agreed to continue having the great talks we have together.
Synonyms
guffaw, chuckle, chortle, cackle, howl, roar, ha-ha, fall about, roar/hoot with laughter, shake with laughter, be convulsed with laughter, dissolve into laughter, split one's sides, be doubled up
informal be in stitches, die laughing, be rolling in the aisles, laugh like a drain, bust a gut, break up, be creased up, crease up, crack up
ridicule, mock, deride, scoff at, jeer at, sneer at, jibe at, make fun of, poke fun at, make jokes about, heap scorn on, scorn, pooh-pooh;
lampoon, satirize, caricature, parody;
taunt, tease, torment
informal send up, take the mickey out of
Australian/New Zealand informal poke mullock at
British vulgar slang take the piss out of
dated make sport of
1.1 (laugh at) Treat with ridicule or scorn: many people only laughed at these stories...
- I will think of her laughing at the ridiculousness of what we're both doing.
- The other driver took my details and he must have been laughing at me as I pulled away - the car was a wreck.
- To say that I have found motherhood fulfilling and rewarding is sneered and laughed at.
1.2 (laugh something off) Dismiss something by treating it in a light-hearted way: he laughed off suggestions that the company was in trouble...
- Apologize in a lighthearted way, and laugh it off by turning it into a joke.
- Avoiding, dismissing or laughing them off on a consistent basis means that many important issues go unresolved.
- She tried to laugh it off dismissively, but her words seemed to pique his interest.
Synonyms
dismiss, make a joke of, make light of, refuse to acknowledge, overlook, turn a blind eye to, discount, ignore, disregard, shrug off, brush aside, scoff at, pooh-pooh, take no notice of, pay no attention to, play down, never mind
informal cock a snook at
1.3 (be laughing) informal Be in a fortunate or successful position: if next year’s model is as successful, Ford will be laughing
noun
1An act of laughing: she gave a loud, silly laugh...
- It was a real laugh, a ha-ha laugh, unlike the fit of hysterics he'd had earlier.
- But his plan became clear as she started bursting out with guffaws and laughs and giggles when he tickled her.
- He let out a loud, hearty laugh.
Synonyms
chuckle, chortle, guffaw, giggle, titter, ha-ha, tee-hee, snigger, roar of laughter, hoot of laughter, shriek of laughter, peal of laughter, belly laugh
2 (a laugh) informal Something that causes laughter; a source of fun, amusement, or derision: come along, it’ll be a laugh she decided to play along with him for a laugh that’s a laugh, the idea of you cooking a meal!...
- The head doorman is a bit of joker and you can have a laugh with him but it's not advisable to upset him too much.
- He loved to have a laugh, a bit of fun and to have a drink.
- After dinner, people swap stories, play music, have a laugh.
Synonyms
joke, prank, piece of fun, jest, escapade, adventure, caper, romp, practical joke, trick, bit of mischief;
shenanigans, horseplay
informal lark, giggle, hoot
2.1A person who is good fun or amusing company: I like Peter—he’s a good laugh...
- I got on especially well with Colin, who was friendly and a good laugh.
- She is a good person and a good laugh, and yet she constantly lies.
- While in NYC check this bar out, the women are gorgeous and friendly too, and the bar staff are a good laugh.
Synonyms
joker, comedian, comic, comedienne, humorist, wag, wit, entertainer, clown, funny man, funny woman, jester, prankster, character
informal card, case, caution, hoot, scream, riot, barrel of laughs
Australian/New Zealand informal hard case
Phrases
be away laughing
be laughing all the way to the bank
have the last laugh
he who laughs last laughs longest
laugh one's head off
laugh in someone's face
the laugh is on me (or you, him, etc.)
laugh like a drain
a laugh a minute
laugh on the other side of one's face (or out of the other side of one's mouth)
laugh someone/thing out of court
laugh oneself silly (or sick)
laugh something to scorn
laugh up one's sleeve
no laughing matter
play something for laughs
Origin
Old English hlæhhan, hliehhan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German lachen, also to laughter.