First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1laugh
verb \ˈlaf, ˈläf\
: to show that you are happy or that you think something is funny by smiling and making a sound from your throat
: to think or say that someone or something is foolish and does not deserve serious attention or respect
: to not be bothered by something
Full Definition of LAUGH
intransitive verb
1
a : to show emotion (as mirth, joy, or scorn) with a chuckle or explosive vocal sound b : to find amusement or pleasure in something <laughed at his own clumsiness> c : to become amused or derisive <a very skeptical public laughed at our early efforts — Graenum Berger>
2
a : to produce the sound or appearance of laughter <a laughing brook> b : to be of a kind that inspires joy
transitive verb
1
: to influence or move by laughter <laughed the bad singer off the stage>
2
: to utter with a laugh
— laugh·ing·ly \ˈla-fiŋ-lē, ˈlä-\ adverb
See laugh defined for English-language learners
See laugh defined for kids
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Origin of LAUGH
Middle English, from Old English hliehhan; akin to Old High German lachēn to laugh
Related to LAUGH
2laugh
noun
: the act or sound of laughing
: something that causes laughter : something funny or foolish
: a funny person
Full Definition of LAUGH
1
: the act of laughing
See laugh defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of LAUGH
1690
LAUGHING Defined for Kids
1laugh
verb \ˈlaf, ˈläf\
laughedlaugh·ing
Definition of LAUGH for Kids
: to show amusement, joy, or scorn by smiling and making sounds (as chuckling) in the throat
2laugh
noun
Definition of LAUGH for Kids
: the act or sound of laughing
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