"sounds and movements of the face and body that are the instinctive expressions of lively amusement and sometimes also of contempt or derision: she couldn't help laughing at his jokes; he laughed out loud | [with direct speech] she laughed, "Not a chance." - (laugh at) ridicule; scorn. - (laugh something off) dismiss something embarrassing, unfortunate, or potentially serious by treating it in a lighthearted way or making a joke of it. - (be laughing) INFORMAL be in a fortunate or successful position: if next year's model is as successful, Ford will be laughing. # n. 1 an act of laughing: she gave a loud, silly laugh. 2 (a laugh) INFORMAL a thing that causes laughter or derision: that's"