Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Laugh?

\Laugh\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Laughed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Laughing}.] [OE. laughen, laghen, lauhen, AS. hlehhan, hlihhan, hlyhhan, hliehhan; akin to OS. hlahan, D. & G. lachen, OHG. hlahhan, lahhan, lahh?n, Icel. hl[ae]ja. Dan. lee, Sw. le, Goth. hlahjan; perh. of imitative origin.] 1. 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. Queen Hecuba laughed that her eyes ran o'er. --Shak. He laugheth that winneth. --Heywood's Prov. 2. Fig.: To be or appear gay, cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport. Then laughs the childish year, with flowerets crowned. --Dryden. In Folly's cup still laughs the bubble Joy. --Pope. {To laugh at}, to make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun of; to deride. No wit to flatter left of all his store, No fool to laugh at, which he valued more. --Pope. {To laugh in the sleeve}
\Laugh\, v. t. 1. To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule. Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy? --Shak. I shall laugh myself to death. --Shak. 2. To express by, or utter with, laughter; -- with out. From his deep chest laughs out a loud applause. --Shak. {To laugh away}. (a) To drive away by laughter; as, to laugh away regret. (b) To waste in hilarity. ``Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.'' --Shak. {To laugh down}. (a) To cause to cease or desist by laughter; as, to laugh down a speaker. (b) To cause to be given up on account of ridicule; as, to laugh down a reform. {To 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. {To laugh to scorn}, to deride; to treat with mockery, contempt, and scorn; to despise.
\Laugh\, n. An expression of mirth peculiar to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter. See {Laugh}, v. i. And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind. --Goldsmith. That man is a bad man who has not within him the power of a hearty laugh. --F. W. Robertson.