laughter

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Old English hleahtor, from Proto-Germanic *hlahtroz. Cognate with German Gelächter, Dutch (ge)lach(en), Icelandic hlátur, Danish latter.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈlɑːftə/, SAMPA: /"lA:ft@/
• (US) enPR: lăfʹtər, IPA: /ˈlæftɚ/, SAMPA: /"l{ft@`/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ɑːftə(r)

[edit] Noun

Wikipedia has an article on:

Laughter

Wikipedia

laughter (uncountable)

1. The sound of laughing, produced by air so expelled; any similar sound.

   Their loud laughter betrayed their presence

2. A movement (usually involuntary) of the muscles of the laughing face, particularly of the lips, with a peculiar expression of the eyes, indicating merriment, satisfaction or derision, and usually attended by a sonorous and interrupted expulsion of air from the lungs.

   • The act of laughter, which is a sweet contraction of the muscles of the face, and a pleasant agitation of the vocal organs, is not merely, or totally within the jurisdiction of ourselves. - Sir Thomas Browne
   • Archly the maiden smiled, and with eyes overrunning with laughter - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

3. (archaic) A reason for merriment
4. (slang) A decidedly one-sided sports contest, especially where the winning team is able to score at will.

   The final score of the football game was 70-0; what a laughter it was.

[edit] Related terms

• laugh

[edit] Translations