Definition: laugh

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

laugh
     n 1: the sound of laughing [syn: laughter]
     2: a facial expression characteristic of a person laughing;
        "his face wrinkled in a silent laugh of derision"
     3: a humorous anecdote or remark [syn: joke, gag, jest, jape,
         yak, wheeze]
     v : produce laughter [syn: express joy, express mirth] [ant:
          cry]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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 \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 \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.

Sardonic \Sar*don"ic\, a. [F. sardonique, L. sardonius, Gr. ?,
   ?, perhaps fr. ? to grin like a dog, or from a certain plant
   of Sardinia, Gr. ?, which was said to screw up the face of
   the eater.]
   Forced; unnatural; insincere; hence, derisive, mocking,
   malignant, or bitterly sarcastic; -- applied only to a laugh,
   smile, or some facial semblance of gayety.

         Where strained, sardonic smiles are glozing still, And
         grief is forced to laugh against her will. --Sir H.
                                                  Wotton.

         The scornful, ferocious, sardonic grin of a bloody
         ruffian.                                 --Burke.

   Sardonic grin or laugh, an old medical term for a
      spasmodic affection of the muscles of the face, giving it
      an appearance of laughter.