Laughing is a reaction to certain stimuli. Traditionally, it is considered a visual expression of happiness, or an inward feeling of joy. It may ensue from hearing a joke, being tickled, or other stimuli.

Laughter is a part of human behavior regulated by the brain, helping humans clarify their intentions in social interaction and providing an emotional context to conversations. Laughter is used as a signal for being part of a group — it signals acceptance and positive interactions with others. Laughter is sometimes seen as contagious, and the laughter of one person can itself provoke laughter from others as a positive feedback. This may account in part for the popularity of laugh tracks in situation comedy television shows.

Laughter is anatomically caused by the epiglottis constricting the larynx.

The study of humor and laughter, and its psychological and physiological effects on the human body, is called gelotology.

Noun

Laughter

Wikipedia laughter (usually uncountable; plural laughters)

1. The sound of laughing, produced by air so expelled; any similar sound.

   Their loud laughter betrayed their presence

2. A movement (usually involuntary) of the muscles of the laughing face, particularly of the lips, with a peculiar expression of the eyes, indicating merriment, satisfaction or derision, and usually attended by a sonorous and interrupted expulsion of air from the lungs.

   • The act of laughter, which is a sweet contraction of the muscles of the face, and a pleasant agitation of the vocal organs, is not merely, or totally within the jurisdiction of ourselves. - Sir Thomas Browne
   • Archly the maiden smiled, and with eyes overrunning with laughter - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

3. (archaic) A reason for merriment

Related terms

• laugh

Laughter can be an audible expression of merriment and amusement or an inward feeling of joy or pleasure, in a reaction to certain stimuli, including fundamental stresses, which serves as an emotional balancing mechanism. Instinctually, it is considered a visual expression of delight or happiness and may ensue from hearing a joke, being tickled, or experiencing unusual sensations.

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