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Laugh vs Haugh - What's the difference?

laugh | haugh |

As nouns the difference between laugh and haugh

is that laugh is an expression of mirth particular to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter while haugh is (scotland|northern england) a low-lying meadow by the side of a river.

As a verb laugh

is (label) 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.

laugh

English

Alternative forms

* laff (eye dialect) * laughe (archaic) * larf (Cockney eye dialect)

Noun

(en noun)
  • An expression of mirth particular to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter.
  • * 1803 , (Oliver Goldsmith), The Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith, M.B.: With an Account of His Life , page 45:
  • And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind.
  • * 1869 , , Lectures and Addresses on Literary and Social Topics , page 87:
  • That man is a bad man who has not within him the power of a hearty laugh .
  • Something that provokes mirth or scorn.
  • * 1921 , (Ring Lardner), The Big Town: How I and the Mrs. Go to New York to See Life and Get Katie a Husband , The Bobbs-Merrill Company, page 73:
  • “And this rug,” he says, stomping on an old rag carpet. “How much do you suppose that cost?” ¶ It was my first guess, so I said fifty dollars. ¶ “That’s a laugh ,” he said. “I paid two thousand for that rug.”
  • * 1979 , (Monty Python), (Always Look on the Bright Side of Life)
  • Life's a piece of shit / When you look at it / Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true.
  • (label) A fun person.
  • * 2010 , (The Times), March 14, 2010, (Tamzin Outhwaite), the unlikely musical star
  • Outhwaite is a good laugh , yes, she knows how to smile: but deep down, she really is strong and stern.

    Synonyms

    * (expression of mirth) cackle, chortle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, snicker, snigger, titter, cachinnation * (something that provokes mirth or scorn) joke, laughing stock

    Derived terms

    * barrel of laughs * belly laugh * bundle of laughs * evil laugh * a laugh a minute * for a laugh * have a laugh * have the last laugh * horselaugh * laughathon * laughless * laughlike * laughline * laugh machine * laughsome * laugh track * laughworthy * laughy * liquid laugh

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (label) 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.
  • * c. 1602 , (William Shakespeare), (Troilus and Cressida) , act I, scene ii:
  • But there was such laughing! Queen Hecuba laugh' d that her eyes ran o'er.
  • * 1899 , (Stephen Crane),
  • The roars of laughter which greeted his proclamation were of two qualities; some men laughing' because they knew all about cuckoo-clocks, and other men ' laughing because they had concluded that the eccentric Jake had been victimised by some wise child of civilisation.
  • * 1979 , (Monty Python), (Always Look on the Bright Side of Life)
  • If life seems jolly rotten / There's something you've forgotten / And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
  • To be or appear cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport.
  • * 1693 , (John Dryden), "Of the Pythagorean Philosophy", from the 15th book of Ovid's Metamorphoses
  • Then laughs the childish year, with flowerets crowned
  • * 1734 , (Alexander Pope), (An Essay on Man) , Chapter 3
  • In Folly’s cup ?till laughs the bubble Joy.
  • To make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun of; to deride; to mock.
  • * 1731-1735 , (Alexander Pope), (Moral Essays)
  • No wit to flatter left of all his store, No fool to laugh at, which he valu'd more.
  • * 1890 , (Oscar Wilde), (The Picture of Dorian Gray) , Chapter 3
  • There was something about him, Harry, that amused me. He was such a monster. You will laugh at me, I know, but I really went in and paid a whole guinea for the stage-box. To the present day I can't make out why I did so; and yet if I hadn't! – my dear Harry, if I hadn't, I would have missed the greatest romance of my life. I see you are laughing. It is horrid of you!"
  • * 1967 , (The Beatles), (Penny Lane)
  • On the corner is a banker with a motorcar / The little children laugh at him behind his back
  • (label) To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule.
  • * 1611 , (William Shakespeare), (The Tempest) , act II, scene i:
  • Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy?
  • * 1611 , (William Shakespeare), (The Tempest) , act II, scene ii:
  • I shall laugh myself to death.
  • (label) To express by, or utter with, laughter.
  • * 1602 , (William Shakespeare), (Troilus and Cressida) , act I, scene iii:
  • From his deep chest laughs out a loud applause.
  • * 1866 , (Louisa May Alcott), (Behind A Mask)'' or, ''A Woman's Power ; Chapter 8
  • Fairfax addressed her as "my lady," she laughed her musical laugh, and glanced up at a picture of Gerald with eyes full of exultation.
  • * 1906 , (Jack London), (Moon-Face)
  • "You refuse to take me seriously," Lute said, when she had laughed her appreciation. "How can I take that Planchette rigmarole seriously?"

    Usage notes

    The simple past tense forms laught', '''laugh'd''' and '''low''' and the past participles '''laught''', '''laugh'd''' and ' laughen also exist, but are obsolete.

    Synonyms

    * (show mirth by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face) cackle, chortle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, snicker, snigger, titter * See also

    Antonyms

    * (show mirth by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face) cry, weep

    Coordinate terms

    * (show mirth by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face) cry

    Derived terms

    * belly-laugh * burst out laughing * don't make me laugh * he who laughs last laughs best * he who laughs last laughs longest * laughable * laugh all the way to the bank * laugh away * laugh down * laugher * laughing * laugh in someone's face * laugh in the sleeve * laugh like a drain * laugh like a hyena * laugh off * laugh one out of * laugh one's head off * laugh on the other side of one's face * laugh out, laugh out loud * laugh out of the other corner of the mouth, laugh out of the other side of the mouth * laugh to scorn * laugh track * * LOL * outlaugh * unlaugh * you're having a laugh * you've got to laugh

    See also

    * aphonogelia * comedy * gelotology * funny * ha ha * tee hee, tee hee hee

    haugh

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (Scotland, northern England) A low-lying meadow by the side of a river.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
  • On a haugh or level plain, near to a royal borough.
  • *1932 , (Lewis Grassic Gibbon), Sunset Song'', Polygon 2006 (''A Scots Quair ), p. 46:
  • *:The cattle had […] loved their life in the haughs of Echt, south there across the uncouthy hills was a world cold and unchancy.
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