the action of or noise produced by laughing the experience or manifestation of mirth, amusement, scorn, or joy
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
laugh•ter
(laf′tər, läf′-),USA pronunciation n.
laugh′ter•less, adj.
- the action or sound of laughing.
- an inner quality, mood, disposition, etc., suggestive of laughter;
mirthfulness:a man of laughter and goodwill. - an expression or appearance of merriment or amusement.
- [Archaic.]an object of laughter;
subject or matter for amusement.
- bef. 900; Middle English; Old English hleahtor; cognate with Old High German hlahtar, Old Norse hlātr; see laugh
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