DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
Laugh v. i. [imp. & p. p. Laughed p. pr. & vb. n. Laughing.]
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, 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]
Laugh·ing a. & n. from Laugh, v. i.
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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laughing
adj : showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness; "laughing
children" [syn: laughing(a), riant]