What does "laughter" mean?

1. (sound of laughing) the sound people make when they laugh because something is funny. 2. (physical act of laughing) the way your face and body move when you are very happy or amused.

laughter

US //ˈɫæftɝ// UK //lˈɑːftɐ// laugh·ter

1 sound of laughing (n.)
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.

Example

The sound of loud laughter came from the kitchen where the friends were cooking.

Example

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.
- giggling
- chortling
- hilarity
- silence
- crying
2 physical act of laughing (n.)
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.

Example

Her body shook with laughter as she watched the funny cartoon.

Example

The comedian's performance was so effective that the audience was soon doubled over in helpless laughter, unable to catch their breath between jokes.
- mirth
- merriment
- sadness
- grief

Origin

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.