Laugh

läf, v.i. to expre mirth or joy by an explosive inarticulate sound of the voice and peculiar facial distortion: to be gay or lively: make merry (with at ), to flout.— v.t. to expre with a laugh: to affect in some way by laughter.— n. the sound caused by merriment.— adj. Laugh′able , ludicrous.— n. Laugh′ablene .— adv. Laugh′ably .— ns. Laugh′er ; Laugh′ing-gas , a gas which excites laughter, called nitrous oxide, used as an anæsthetic in minor surgical operations, as in dentistry; Laugh′ing-jack′a , the great kingfisher of Australia.— adv. Laugh′ingly , in a laughing manner.— ns. Laugh′ing-stock , an object of ridicule, like something stuck up to be laughed at; Laugh′ter , act or noise of laughing.— Laugh a thing off , to treat as if worthy only of a laugh; Laugh in one's sleeve , to laugh inwardly; Laugh one out of , to make a person abandon a habit, ., by laughing at him for it; Laugh on the wrong side of the mouth , to be made feel disappointment or sorrow, esp. after boasting, .; Laugh to scorn , to deride or jeer at.— Have the laugh on one's side , to be able to laugh at another through getting the better of him by superior dexterity, . [A.S. hlihan ; Ger. lachen , Goth. hlahjan ; prob. imit.]