GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions

1.       
   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, lahhēn, Icel. hlæja,W Dan. lee, Sw. le, Goth. hlahjan; perh. of imitative origin.]
   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.
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   Queen Hecuba laughed that her eyes ran o'er.
   Shak.
   
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   He laugheth that winneth.
   Heywood's Prov.
   
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   Fig.: To be or appear gay, cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport.
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   Then laughs the childish year, with flowerets crowned.
   Dryden.
   
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   In Folly's cup still laughs the bubble Joy.
   Pope.
   
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   To laugh at, to make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun of; to deride.
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   No wit to flatter left of all his store,
   No fool to laugh at, which he valued more.
   Pope.
   -- To laugh in the sleeve, To laugh up one's sleeve, to laugh secretly, or so as not to be observed, especially while apparently preserving a grave or serious demeanor toward the person or persons laughed at. -- To laugh out, to laugh in spite of some restraining influence; to laugh aloud. -- To laugh out of the other corner of the mouth or To laugh out of the other side of the mouth, to weep or cry; to feel regret, vexation, or disappointment after hilarity or exaltation. [Slang]
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2.       
   Laughing , a. & n. from Laugh, v. i.
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   Laughing falcon (Zool.), a South American hawk (Herpetotheres cachinnans); -- so called from its notes, which resemble a shrill laugh. -- Laughing gas (Chem.), nitrous oxide, also called hyponitrous oxide, or protoxide of nitrogen; -- so called from the exhilaration and laughing which it sometimes produces when inhaled. It has been much used as an anaesthetic agent, though now its use is primarily in dentistry -- Laughing goose (Zool.), the European white-fronted goose. -- Laughing gull. (Zool.) (a) A common European gull (Xema ridibundus); -- called also pewit, black cap, red-legged gull, and sea crow. (b) An American gull (Larus atricilla). In summer the head is nearly black, the back slate color, and the five outer primaries black. -- Laughing hyena (Zool.), the spotted hyena. See Hyena. -- Laughing jackass (Zool.), the great brown kingfisher (Dacelo gigas), of Australia; -- called also giant kingfisher, and gogobera. -- Laughing owl (Zool.), a peculiar owl (Sceloglaux albifacies) of New Zealand, said to be on the verge of extinction. The name alludes to its notes.
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