English
Etymology
From OE. term|hlæhhan, term|hlihhan, term|hliehhan.

Pronunciation
a|Australia IPA|/l��f/, SAMPA|/lA:f/
a|UK IPA|/l��f/, SAMPA|/lA:f/
a|US AHD|l�f, IPA|/læf/, SAMPA|/l{f/
audio|en-us-laugh.ogg|Audio (US)
rhymes|��f

Noun
en-noun

1. An expression of mirth particular to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter.
2. Something that provokes mirth or scorn.

#* rfdate And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind. � Goldsmith
#* rfdate That man is a bad man who has not within him the power of a hearty laugh. � F. W. Robertson

Synonyms
sense|expression of mirth cackle, chortle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, snicker, snigger, titter, cachinnation
sense|something that provokes mirth or scorn joke, laughing stock

Derived terms
a laugh a minute
for a laugh<!--as in "do something for laugh" = "do something for amusement"-->
have a laugh<!--as in "You're having a laugh, aren't you?" = "You can't be serious!"-->
have the last laugh

Translations
trans-top|expression of mirth peculiar to the human species
Albanian: qeshje
Danish: t-|da|latter|c
Dutch: t+|nl|lach|m
Finnish: t+|fi|nauru
French: t+|fr|rire|m
German: t+|de|lachen
Hebrew: צ��ק romanization of Hebrew|tskhók m
trans-mid
Italian: riso m<!--sic: homograph of "riso", rice-->
Japanese: �� (warai)
Kurdish: KUchar|پ�ک�����
Latin: risus|rīsus m
Norwegian: t-|no|latter|m, t-|no|lått|m
Português: riso
Russian: �ме� (smex) m
Slovene: t+|sl|smeh|m
Spanish: t+|es|risa|f
trans-bottom

trans-top|something that provokes mirth or scorn
Albanian: qeshje
Danish: t-|da|latter|c
Dutch: t+|nl|lach|m
Finnish: t+|fi|nauru, t-|fi|naurunaihe
trans-mid
Japanese: ��� (waraimono)
Latin: ludibrium|lūdibrium n
Russian: �ме� (smex) m, �мо�а (umóra) f
trans-bottom

Verb
en-verb

1. intransitive To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of the face and eyes, and usually accompanied by the emission of explosive or chuckling sounds from the chest and throat; to indulge in laughter.

#* rfdate Queen Hecuba laughed that her eyes ran o�er. � Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, I-ii
#* rfdate He laugheth that winneth. � Heywood�s Prov.

1. context|intransitive|figurative To be or appear cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport.

#* rfdate Then laughs the childish year, with flowerets crowned. � Dryden
#* rfdate In Folly�s cup still laughs the bubble Joy. � Pope

1. intransitive To laugh at, to make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun of; to deride.

#* rfdate No wit to flatter left of all his store, No fool to laugh at, which he valued more. � Pope

1. transitive To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule.

#* rfdate Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy? � Shakespeare, Tempest, II-i
#* rfdate I shall laugh myself to death. � Shakespeare, Tempest, II-ii

1. transitive To express by, or utter with, laughter; � with out.

#* rfdate From his deep chest laughs out a loud applause. � Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, I-iii

Synonyms
italbrac|show mirth by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face: cackle, chortle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, snicker, snigger, titter

laughing<!--adjective, as in "laughing gas"; noun-->
laugh in someone's face
laugh in the sleeve<!-- = to laugh up one�s sleeve-->
laugh off
laugh one out of<!--: to cause one by laughter or ridicule to abandon or give up; as, to laugh one out of a plan or purpose-->
laugh on the other side of one's face
laugh out, laugh out loud
laugh out of the other corner of the mouth, laugh out of the other side of the mouth<!--, (slang): to weep or cry; to feel regret, vexation, or disappointment after hilarity or exaltation.-->
laugh to scorn<!--: to deride; to treat with mockery, contempt, and scorn; to despise.-->
laugh track<!-- recorded laughter mixed in with a performance.; synonym: canned laughter-->
laugh up one�s sleeve<!-- to laugh secretly, or so as not to be observed, especially while apparently preserving a grave or serious demeanor toward the person or persons laughed at.-->

Related terms
laughter

Translations
trans-top|show mirth by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face
Albanian: qesh
Danish: t-|da|le, t-|da|smile
Dutch: t+|nl|lachen
Finnish: t+|fi|nauraa
French: t+|fr|rire
Hebrew: �צ��ק romanization of Hebrew|litskhók
Icelandic: t+|is|hlæja
trans-mid
Italian: t+|it|ridere
Japanese: �� (warau)
Kurdish: KUchar|پ�ک�����
Latin: t-|la|rideo|alt=rīd�re
Norwegian: t+|no|le
Russian: �ме����� (smeját's'a) impf, �о�о�а�� (xoxotát') impf
Slovene: t+|sl|smejati se
Spanish: t+|es|reír
trans-bottom

trans-top|be or appear cheerful
Albanian: gazmor
Danish: t-|da|smile, grine
Dutch: t+|nl|lachen
Finnish: t-|fi|iloita, t+|fi|nauraa
Icelandic: t+|is|hlæja
trans-mid
Norwegian: t+|no|le
trans-bottom

trans-top|make an object of laughter or ridicule
Albanian: tall, përqesh
Danish: le ad, gøre sig lystig t+|da|over
Dutch: t+|nl|lachen
Finnish: t-|fi|pilkata, t+|fi|nauraa
Hebrew: �צ��ק romanization of Hebrew|litskhók
Icelandic: t+|is|hlæja
trans-mid
Japanese: ����� (warai tobasu)
Latin: t-|la|rideo|alt=rīd�re
Norwegian: t+|no|le
Russian: �ме����� (smeját's'a) impf, на�ме�а���� (nasmexát's'a) impf
Slovene: zasmehovati
trans-bottom

trans-top|affect or influence by means of laughter
Albanian: përqesh
Danish: grine
Dutch: t+|nl|lachen
Finnish: t-|fi|naurattaa, t+|fi|nauraa
trans-mid
Icelandic: t+|is|hlæja
Japanese: ����� (issh� ni fusu)
trans-bottom

trans-top|express by, or utter with, laughter
Albanian: qeshem
Danish: grine
Dutch: t+|nl|lachen
Finnish: t+|fi|nauraa
Icelandic: t+|is|hlæja
trans-mid
Norwegian: t+|no|le
trans-bottom

checktrans
trans-top|Translations to be checked
ttbc|Afrikaans: lag#Afrikaans|lag
ttbc|Basque: barre egin
ttbc|Breton: c'hoarzhin
ttbc|Catalan: riure
ttbc|Chinese: � (xiào)
ttbc|Croatian: smijati (se)
ttbc|Esperanto: ridi
ttbc|French: rire
ttbc|German: t+|de|lachen
ttbc|Gothic: hlahjan
ttbc|Guaraní: puka
ttbc|Hawaiian: 'aka
ttbc|Hungarian: nevet
ttbc|Ido: ridar
ttbc|Indonesian: tawa|tertawa
ttbc|Interlingua: rider#Interlingua|rider
ttbc|Italian: t+|it|ridere
trans-mid
ttbc|Kurdish: t|ku|kenîn, t|ku|kenandin
ttbc|Lojban: cmila (1), mi'afra (2)
ttbc|Malaysian: ketawa
ttbc|Maori: kata#Maori|kata
ttbc|Old English: hlæhhan, hliehhan
ttbc|Portuguese: rir
ttbc|Romanian: râde
ttbc|Samoan: 'ata
ttbc|Slovak: smiech, rehot
ttbc|Swahili: kucheka
ttbc|Swedish: skratta
ttbc|Tongan: kata#Tongan|kata
ttbc|Tupinambá: puká
ttbc|Turkish: gülmek
ttbc|Vietnamese: cư�i
ttbc|Welsh: chwerthin
ttbc|Telugu: నవ�వ�
trans-bottom
Note: the following were in a translation table for "be or appear gay", which, given the modern meanings, is misleading; the title of this table has now been changed to "be or appear cheerful". The translations therefore need to be checked.
ttbc|Slovene: nasmejan (biti)

Category:1000 English basic words
Category:Laughter

ar:laugh
de:laugh
et:laugh
es:laugh
fa:laugh
fr:laugh
ko:laugh
io:laugh
id:laugh
it:laugh
kk:laugh
ku:laugh
hu:laugh
ja:laugh
pl:laugh
pt:laugh
ro:laugh
ru:laugh
simple:laugh
sk:laugh
fi:laugh
sv:laugh
ta:laugh
te:laugh
vi:laugh
tr:laugh
uk:laugh
zh:laugh

• 2007-12-14 18:34 - Tbot - added t for sl

Full Revision History