laughter

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see also: Laughter

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Pronunciation

• (British) IPA: /ˈlɑːftə/
• (America) enPR: lăfʹtər, IPA: /ˈlæftɚ/

Noun

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, and of the whole body, 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.

   • Archly the maiden smiled, and with eyes overrunning with laughter.

3. (archaic) A reason for merriment.

Related terms

• laugh

Translations

• French: rire
• German: Gelächter, Lachen
• Italian: risata, riso
• Portuguese: risada, risos
• Russian: смех
• Spanish: risa

Translations

• French: rire
• German: Gelächter, Lachen
• Italian: risata
• Portuguese: risada, riso
• Russian: смех

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Laughter

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Proper noun

1. Surname

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