laughter
- 01 A2 Elementary
the sound people make when they laugh because something is funny.
the audible sound produced by the rhythmic, vocalised expulsion of air from the lungs, typically signifying amusement.
Simple“The sound of loud laughter came from the kitchen where the friends were cooking.”
In context“The sudden burst of laughter from the back of the lecture hall disrupted the professor's train of thought and caused several students to turn around.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
the way your face and body move when you are very happy or amused.
the physical manifestation of mirth, involving involuntary muscle contractions of the face and torso.
Simple“Her body shook with laughter as she watched the funny cartoon.”
In context“The comedian's performance was so effective that the audience was soon doubled over in helpless laughter, unable to catch their breath between jokes.”
From Middle English laughter, laghter, laȝter, from Old English hleahtor (“laughter, jubilation, derision”), from Proto-Germanic hlahtraz (“laughter”), from Proto-Indo-European klek-, *kleg- (“to shout”). Cognate with German Gelächter (“laughter, hilarity, merriment”), Danish and Norwegian latter (“laughter”), Icelandic hlátur (“laughter”). More at laugh.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.