laughterlaugh‧ter /ˈlɑːftə $ ˈlæftər/ ●●● W3 noun [uncountable] 
Foster joined in the laughter. He looked shocked, then burst into laughter (=started laughing).roar/scream/shriek with laughter (=laugh very loudly) Audiences roared with laughter. He shook with laughter.peals/gales/howls etc of laughter (=loud laughs) The comment brought peals of laughter from her classmates.COLLOCATIONSverbsburst into laughter (=suddenly start laughing)· Flora burst into laughter when I told her the joke.roar with laughter (=laugh very noisily)· The crowd roared with laughter.scream/shriek with laughter (=laugh very noisily and with a high voice)· The children shrieked with laughter as they watched the clown.shake with laughter· They were shaking with laughter and couldn't even speak.meet/greet something with laughter (=react to something by laughing)· Her remarks were greeted with mocking laughter.the laughter dies (down) (=stops)· The laughter died instantly as Robert walked in.phrasespeals/hoots/gales of laughter (=a lot of loud laughter)· This idea was greeted with hoots of laughter.a fit of laughter (=a period in which you laugh uncontrollably)· Her funny stories had us in fits of laughter.a burst of laughter (=a short period of loud laughter)· There was a loud burst of laughter behind me.adjectiveshysterical laughter (=laughter that is out of control because someone is very excited, nervous etc)· She burst into hysterical laughter.helpless laughter (=that someone cannot control)· The audience were in fits of helpless laughter.nervous laughter (=because someone is nervous and not sure how to react)· Nervous laughter greeted her remarks.raucous laughter (=loud and rough-sounding)· His attempt to explain was greeted with raucous laughter.suppressed laughter (=when someone tries not to laugh)· He began to shake with suppressed laughter.
WORD ORIGINlaughter
Origin:
Old English hleahtorEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The show was a great success, and had the audience roaring with laughter.
- Thelma gave a gurgle of laughter.
- There was a burst of laughter when he appeared.
- We could hear laughter coming from the next room.
Longman Language Activatorto laugh because something is funny
to laugh because something is funny or because you are enjoying yourself: · I laughed all the way through the film.· I thought Dad would be angry, but he just laughed.laugh about: · I couldn't understand what they were all laughing about.laugh at: · No-one laughed at his jokes.burst out laughing (=suddenly laugh loudly): · We just looked at each other and burst out laughing.
the sound you make when you laugh: · We could hear laughter coming from the next room.roar with laughter (=laugh very loudly): · The show was a great success, and had the audience roaring with laughter.burst/gurgle/snort etc of laughter: · There was a burst of laughter when he appeared.· Thelma gave a gurgle of laughter.
especially British if people have a laugh about something, they all laugh about it together: have a laugh about/at: · When I realised my mistake, we had a laugh about it.have a good laugh: · It was a bit scary at the time, but afterwards we all had a good laugh.
to laugh quietly, especially because you are thinking about something funny: · "Do you remember when Michelle fell in the river?" Morgan chuckled.chuckle at/about: · "We used to get up to all kinds of mischief." She chuckled at the memory.chuckle to yourself: · Simon sat reading a magazine, chuckling to himself.
to laugh quietly and repeatedly like a child because of something funny or because you are nervous or embarrassed: · She giggled nervously and went bright pink.giggle at/over: · Linda and Christina were giggling at some private joke.
to laugh quietly in a high voice, because you are nervous, embarrassed, or slightly amused: · As the teacher read the poem someone tittered.
to laugh a lot or for a long time to be unable to stop yourself from laughing: · Jonathan kept making funny faces at me and I just couldn't stop laughing.· It's so embarrassing when everyone else is being serious and you can't stop laughing.
to laugh so much that you cannot control yourself and could not stop laughing if you wanted to: · They both leant against the wall, laughing helplessly.· She was laughing hysterically at the thought of Mr Taylor stepping out of his caravan with no clothes on.
also have/get a fit of the giggles British informal to be unable to stop yourself laughing, especially in a situation when you should not laugh: · It's very difficult to be angry with somebody when you've got the giggles.· I got a dreadful fit of the giggles - I couldn't help myself!
informal to laugh a lot and very loudly because of what someone says or does: · When I told him what had happened, he laughed his head off.· I can't believe we were so stupid. Our competitors must be laughing their heads off.
to laugh a lot continuously and uncontrollably because someone says or does something extremely funny or stupid: · Everybody who heard this had hysterics.
British to laugh a lot in a very happy and cheerful way, especially because something has happened that you did not expect: · When we heard the news, we just fell about!fall about laughing: · When they saw what their father had done, they both fell about laughing.
informal if you say I nearly or almost died , you mean that something made you laugh so much that you almost couldn't stop laughing: · Did you see the look on his face? I nearly died.nearly/almost die laughing: · He said this very solemnly, and they nearly died laughing.
written a lot of laughter: · Jack put the phone down, and the children collapsed in gales of laughter.· There was a brief stunned silence, and then the entire family went into fits of laughter.
to laugh loudly to laugh very loudly because you think something is very funny: · Patsy chased him down the stairs, shrieking with laughter.roar/howl/shriek etc with laughter at: · Dad was roaring with laughter at something on TV and didn't hear me come in.· They howled with laughter at their own jokes.
to suddenly laugh loudly because you think a situation, someone's words, something you are reading etc is very funny: · John threw back his head and laughed out loud.· Wodehouse is one of the few writers who can make me laugh out loud.
to laugh loudly and unpleasantly in a high voice, like someone who is mad: · When I said this, he started cackling like a madman.· "Oh we've got him now!" I cackled, dancing round the room.
a very loud laugh : · With a roar of laughter, he lifted her off her feet and swung her round.· Everyone burst into peals of laughter.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs Jed’s face was alight with excitement. Alex gave another bellow of laughter. Suddenly, the group burst into laughter. Both the girls were doubled up with laughter. We were all in fits of laughter trying to clear up the mess. We both collapsed into helpless giggles. Hoots of laughter rose from the audience. He had the audience hooting with laughter. He makes audiences howl with laughter. This suggestion was greeted with howls of laughter. Everyone in the studio burst into hysterical laughter. We could hear peals of laughter coming from the hall. He burst into raucous laughter. A ripple of laughter ran through the audience. By this time, Michael was roaring with laughter. He let out a roar of laughter. Jim rocked with laughter when he heard what had happened. They screeched with laughter. She snorted with laughter. There were snorts of laughter from the audience.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
(=suddenly start laughing)· Flora burst into laughter when I told her the joke.
(=laugh very noisily)· The crowd roared with laughter.
(=laugh very noisily and with a high voice)· The children shrieked with laughter as they watched the clown.
· They were shaking with laughter and couldn't even speak.
(=react to something by laughing)· Her remarks were greeted with mocking laughter.
(=stops)· The laughter died instantly as Robert walked in.
phrases (=a lot of loud laughter)· This idea was greeted with hoots of laughter.
(=a period in which you laugh uncontrollably)· Her funny stories had us in fits of laughter.
(=a short period of loud laughter)· There was a loud burst of laughter behind me.
adjectives (=laughter that is out of control because someone is very excited, nervous etc)· She burst into hysterical laughter.
(=that someone cannot control)· The audience were in fits of helpless laughter.
(=because someone is nervous and not sure how to react)· Nervous laughter greeted her remarks.
(=loud and rough-sounding)· His attempt to explain was greeted with raucous laughter.
(=when someone tries not to laugh)· He began to shake with suppressed laughter.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Jed’s face was alight with excitement. Alex gave another bellow of laughter. Suddenly, the group burst into laughter. Both the girls were doubled up with laughter. We were all in fits of laughter trying to clear up the mess. We both collapsed into helpless giggles. Hoots of laughter rose from the audience. He had the audience hooting with laughter. He makes audiences howl with laughter. This suggestion was greeted with howls of laughter. Everyone in the studio burst into hysterical laughter.· His comment was met with nervous laughter.
We could hear peals of laughter coming from the hall.· Sara's remark provoked faint laughter.
He burst into raucous laughter. A ripple of laughter ran through the audience. By this time, Michael was roaring with laughter. He let out a roar of laughter. Jim rocked with laughter when he heard what had happened.· She threw her head back and screamed with laughter.
· We could hear the children’s screams of laughter.
They screeched with laughter.· Both women shook with laughter.
She snorted with laughter. There were snorts of laughter from the audience.· The book is full of unexpected laughter as well as despair.· So family life was always full, full of coming and going, full of laughter, full of activity.· The fat driver giggled, then burst into full laughter, the rolls under his robes quivering like jellies.· It had been a special childhood, full of laughter and fun.· Elizabeth who was bright and full of laughter has brought silence with her.
· He gave a great peal of laughter with lots of teeth flashing.· Just call on me. Great laughter rang from all sides.
· I am terrified to look at them because I know I will collapse into helpless laughter.· I flipped from fury straight into hilarity and collapsed on the ground beside him, rolling around in helpless laughter too.· Durkin had struggled out of the car helpless with laughter, delighted with all the excitement he was causing.· For a while my wife and I were helpless with laughter, but trying to clean up afterwards taught us a lesson!
· Mr Morgan and his organ releasing them into hysterical laughter had anaesthetized the horror of the past.· The sound of hysterical laughter swept through the new arrivals as they looked at each other.· The big problem for anybody watching the opening ceremony must have been suppressing whoops of hysterical laughter.· They made a sound like hysterical laughter as they played their games.· A bubble of hysterical laughter rose to her lips.
· Soon there was a burst of loud scandalised laughter.· One or two of the surrounding faces expressed alarm but loud laughter was the general response.· As Athelstan turned off Cheapside into Poultry, he could still hear their loud guffaws of laughter.· The back row broke out in its loudest laughter yet.· Later in the evening the sound of loud laughter wafted up through the open window, and even snatches of a song.· During the movie, though, my audience participation mostly took the form of loud, raucous laughter.
· There was a general gasp and Todger let out a nervous shriek of laughter that sounded horribly like mockery.· The crowd of 3, 523, clearly rooting for Seles, broke out in nervous laughter as the second set unfolded.· In an absurd world, perhaps a bit of nervous laughter is more honest than floods of tears.· There were rumors of an investigation, nervous jokes and nervous laughter, but in the end nothing came of it.· Despite her nervous laughter, Diana had given the prospect much thought.
· Some raucous laughter followed the ribald remark.· Although Great Groups experience their moments of near despair, they are more often raucous with laughter.· Half way through, Rainbow is ejected from the cinema, after complaints about too much raucous laughter.· During the movie, though, my audience participation mostly took the form of loud, raucous laughter.· No one turned a hair at your raucous laughter.· He seemed to find the remark hilarious, because he broke into raucous laughter.
· He'd done so once, and seen them writhing in silent laughter.
VERB· There was another awkward silence, broken by the laughter from the bar.· Then we broke into giddy laughter.· Saying this causes them both to break into laughter.· He seemed to find the remark hilarious, because he broke into raucous laughter.· The crowd of 3, 523, clearly rooting for Seles, broke out in nervous laughter as the second set unfolded.· And soon the house is breaking up with laughter and excellent vibes.· Visualising the imaginary scene Cosmo broke into laughter.
· He was in front of a mirror, and the sight had brought forth gusts of laughter.· I was lucky to find him and I want to thank him for bringing laughter and fun back into my life.
· Blue, blue eyes caught and held hers, and she burst into delighted laughter.· Gorbachev looked shocked by my familiarity, then burst into laughter.· I found myself wandering round with a wry smile on my face and occasionally bursting into laughter at my own presumption.· They were doubled over, poking at each other, making cryptic comments and bursting again into laughter.· They burst into laughter and we piled once again into his car for another search.· She burst into laughter in the Sabbath dimness of the place.· The ridiculousness of the situation made him smile and, throwing his head back, he burst into peals of laughter.· Both of them said the word on the same downbeat, which made them burst into laughter at how hilarious they sounded.
· Francis and Christopher dissolved in laughter, lapped theirs up and declared it very good.· The waiter bowed and retreated, Stephen and Lily dissolved into laughter.· Hopefully the audience will dissolve into fits of laughter.
· Orifice jokes draw gales of laughter from the cultish audience.
· The air was filled with their smoky laughter and the sound of the jukebox.· With Erma, every conversation was filled with laughter.· Here someday my lonely existence will be filled with laughter.
· A large gasp was audible, followed by laughter.· He heard a man's gruff voice and a loud slap, followed by familiar lilting laughter.· It was a moment of gravity following laughter.
· When she was a young woman, she could hear distant laughter down long corridors, as she lay in her bed.· It would be nice to hear the laughter of children.· Polly could hear far-off voices and laughter, and the soft tapping of metal halyards against masts.· Later, as he approached his office, he did hear laughter.· In imagination I hear angelic laughter as a background to the life of the other world.· I heard smatterings of laughter, an occasional light conversational swell, but it sounded like most of the guests had departed.· If Beuno could hear the laughter it could not, in her estimation, be bad; nor could she be mad.
· Even Rachel Gray joined in the laughter that followed.· Normally, Henry would have joined in the laughter.· I joined him in his laughter.
· Rufus went on laughing, hiccuping with laughter.· And why don't the miseries of the poor make us laugh, if laughter derives from the feeling of superiority?
· To fill the gap he roared with laughter at his own witty fashion of dealing with ethics.· He roared with laughter and went about his business.· They roar with laughter at the funny bits.· One minute they were sitting there looking self-conscious and the next they were roaring with laughter.· He roared with laughter, and got up to refill his mug.· Mycroft flung back his head and roared with laughter.· She would have roared with laughter.· She roared with laughter, and so did everyone else.
· Take laughing: I have only to titter and, in seconds, the Monster also is rocking with pretend laughter.· The performance had the legislature, including the subjects of the barbs, rocking with laughter.
· The juke was screaming and the laughter was wild.
· Her shoulders shook with laughter, her alabaster cheeks flushed with warmth.· Cameron was shaking with laughter, looking on and making no move to help.· Rows and rows of streetlights shaking with laughter.
· She had a wonderful sense of humor and would shriek with laughter when her daddy made funny faces and squeaky noises.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► erupt into laughter/shouting etc► a gale/gales of laughter
- Some hotels programme their canned music in twenty-four hour cycles, varying by location and the hour.
- You do not warm to this lady, who delivers her lines to camera as if waiting for the canned laughter.
- All of us were convulsed with laughter.
- From the moment I picked up your book until I laid it down I was convulsed with laughter.
- Francis and Christopher dissolved in laughter, lapped theirs up and declared it very good.
- If he mentioned moving out of her parents' house, she dissolved into tears.
- Katherine threw herself against Gary and dissolved into tears.
- The waiter bowed and retreated, Stephen and Lily dissolved into laughter.
- When at last she is alone, her sorrow overwhelms her and she dissolves in tears.
- There was a gust of laughter.
- A spasm of coughing woke him.
WORD FAMILYnounlaughlaughteradverblaughablylaughinglyadjectivelaughableverblaugh
when people laugh, or the sound of people laughing: Foster joined in the laughter. He looked shocked, then burst into laughter (=started laughing).roar/scream/shriek with laughter (=laugh very loudly) Audiences roared with laughter. He shook with laughter.peals/gales/howls etc of laughter (=loud laughs) The comment brought peals of laughter from her classmates.COLLOCATIONSverbsburst into laughter (=suddenly start laughing)· Flora burst into laughter when I told her the joke.roar with laughter (=laugh very noisily)· The crowd roared with laughter.scream/shriek with laughter (=laugh very noisily and with a high voice)· The children shrieked with laughter as they watched the clown.shake with laughter· They were shaking with laughter and couldn't even speak.meet/greet something with laughter (=react to something by laughing)· Her remarks were greeted with mocking laughter.the laughter dies (down) (=stops)· The laughter died instantly as Robert walked in.phrasespeals/hoots/gales of laughter (=a lot of loud laughter)· This idea was greeted with hoots of laughter.a fit of laughter (=a period in which you laugh uncontrollably)· Her funny stories had us in fits of laughter.a burst of laughter (=a short period of loud laughter)· There was a loud burst of laughter behind me.adjectiveshysterical laughter (=laughter that is out of control because someone is very excited, nervous etc)· She burst into hysterical laughter.helpless laughter (=that someone cannot control)· The audience were in fits of helpless laughter.nervous laughter (=because someone is nervous and not sure how to react)· Nervous laughter greeted her remarks.raucous laughter (=loud and rough-sounding)· His attempt to explain was greeted with raucous laughter.suppressed laughter (=when someone tries not to laugh)· He began to shake with suppressed laughter.