laughter

[laf-ter, lahf-]

noun

1. the action or sound of laughing. laughing.

2. an inner quality, mood, disposition, etc., suggestive of laughter; mirthfulness.

   a man of laughter and goodwill.

3. an expression or appearance of merriment or amusement.

4. Archaic.,  an object of laughter; subject or matter for amusement.

laughter

/ ˈlɑːftə /

noun

1. the action of or noise produced by laughing

2. the experience or manifestation of mirth, amusement, scorn, or joy

Other Word Forms

• laughterless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of laughter¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English hleahtor; cognate with Old High German hlahtar, Old Norse hlātr; laugh

Word History and Origins

Origin of laughter¹

Old English hleahtor; related to Old Norse hlātr

Example Sentences

As Close broke into laughter, Leger-Walker added, “I did. Maybe it was a couple of hours later, but I definitely returned her messages. She exaggerates that.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Where political memes normally aim for laughter, these responses are laden with anxiety and unease.

Read more on Salon

The dimly lit restaurant buzzed with energy when we arrived, conversations and laughter filling the space.

Read more on Salon

Below the tree, the wolves were howling with laughter.

Read more on Literature

When she finished reading through them, one thought came to mind: “‘Wow, this is a lot of me,’” she says, launching into laughter.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amusement 
• chuckle 
• giggle 
• glee 
• guffaw 
• hilarity 
• laugh 
• mirth 
• roar 
• shout 
• shriek 
• snicker