giggle
[gig-uh l]
- to laugh in a silly, often high-pitched way, especially with short, repeated gasps and titters, as from juvenile or ill-concealed amusement or nervous embarrassment.
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- a silly, spasmodic laugh; titter.
- Slang. an amusing experience, incident, etc.: Going to a silly movie was always a giggle.
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Origin of giggle
Synonyms
See more synonyms for giggle on Thesaurus.com1, 2. snicker, snigger, chuckle.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for giggle
Contemporary Examples
They will shriek and giggle, half-scared and half-delighted, when their father pretends to be a monster that will eat them up.
The Golden Girls can make you giggle, then wipe a tear, in a twenty-second span.
The second he does, her giggle sends the Queen of Spades cascading to the brown tile floor below.
But Camille had to play her part—so she got mad at Sebastian on camera, trying not to giggle through the scene.
The giggle fit continues, finally abated with a gratified sigh.
Danielle Brooks, Taystee on ‘Orange Is the New Black,’ Is the Breakout Star of the YearKevin Fallon
December 11, 2013
Historical Examples
“Yes,” said I, and all the boys began to giggle as if something clever had been said.
The First ViolinJessie Fothergill
Then he began to giggle because her bare shoulders were right under his nose.
L'AssommoirEmile Zola
And that would be Etta's hint to look cute and giggle and say, 'Well!
Thankful's InheritanceJoseph C. Lincoln
Bessy began to giggle and to move herself about in a very uneasy way.
The Fairchild FamilyMary Martha Sherwood
They could giggle, and nudge and comment like girls together, and did.
GigoloEdna Ferber
giggle
- (intr) to laugh nervously or foolishly
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- such a laugh
- informal something or someone that provokes amusement
- the giggles a fit of prolonged and uncontrollable giggling
- for a giggle informal as a joke or prank; not seriously
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Word Origin
C16: of imitative origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for giggle
v.
c.1500, probably imitative. Related: Giggled; giggling; giggly. As a noun from 1570s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper