laughing
English
Etymology
From Middle English lawghynge; equivalent to laugh + -ing.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈlɑːfɪŋ/
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɑːfɪŋ
Noun
laughing (countable and uncountable, plural laughings)
- The action of the verb to laugh.
Verb
laughing
- present participle of laugh
Usage notes
As with other present participles, laughing can be used as an adjective:
- The Laughing Cavalier
- laughing hyena
Likewise, as with other gerunds, laughing can be used as a verbal noun:
- Laughing could be heard all the way from the back of the room!
Synonyms
- (as a gerund): hilarity, laughter
Derived terms
- laughing academy
- laughing dove
- laughing falcon
- laughing gas
- laughing gear
- laughing goose
- laughing gull
- laughing hyena
- laughing jackass
- laughing owl
- laughingstock