titter

American  

[tit-er] / ˈtɪt ər /

verb (used without object)

1. to laugh in a restrained, self-conscious, or affected way, as from nervousness or in ill-suppressed amusement.

   Synonyms:

   giggle, snigger, snicker

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noun

1. a tittering laugh.

titter British  

/ ˈtɪtə /

verb

1. (intr) to snigger, esp derisively or in a suppressed way

2. (tr) to express by tittering

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noun

1. a suppressed laugh, chuckle, or snigger

Other Word Forms

• titterer
  noun
• tittering
  adjective
• titteringly
  adverb
• untittering
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of titter

1610–20; perhaps < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse tittra to quiver, Swedish (dial.) tittra to giggle

Explanation

A titter is an awkward laugh at something that you shouldn’t be laughing at, like during dinner when Uncle Marvin makes a joke about your mother’s new hairstyle. If you try to hide your laugh, it’s probably a titter. A laugh that you can’t keep in but also can’t let out, that’s a titter. It usually happens in situations where you shouldn’t be laughing, like listening to your English teacher talk about a date he went on the night before, or when someone tells you a joke in a library. A titter is kinder than a snicker, less noticeable than a giggle, quieter than a chuckle, and way less fun than a chortle. Life’s a joke, laugh it up!

Example Sentences

He Causes People to Titter and Snicker The author of The Blind Bow-Boy is a tall, slim, white-haired, slightly florid young man of middle age.

From Time Magazine Archive

Titter, tit′ėr, v.i. to giggle, snicker, or laugh with the tongue striking the teeth: to laugh restrainedly.—n. a restrained laugh.—ns.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

There is Billy Simper, Jack Chaffé, and Colonel Van Titter, Miss Promonade, and the two Miss Tambours, sometimes make a party, with some other ladies, in a side-box, at the play.

From The Contrast by Moses, Montrose Jonas

There is Billy Simper, Jack Chaffe, and Colonel Van Titter, Miss Promonade, and the two Miss Tambours, sometimes make a party, with some other ladies, in a side-box at the play.

From The Contrast by Tyler, Royall

Everytime a person gits to havin' fun, it's "come here, Titter and rake de yard."

From De Turkey and De Law A Comedy in Three Acts by Hurston, Zora Neale