lauda|tory /lɔː dətri, [AM ] -tɔːri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A laudatory piece of writing or speech expresses praise or admiration for someone. [FORMAL ] □ The New York Times has this very laudatory article about your retirement. □ Beth spoke of Dr. Hammer in laudatory terms.
laugh ◆◆◆ /lɑː f, læ f/ (laughs , laughing , laughed )
1 VERB When you laugh , you make a sound with your throat while smiling and show that you are happy or amused. People also sometimes laugh when they feel nervous or are being unfriendly. □ [V ] He was about to offer an explanation, but she was beginning to laugh. □ [V + with ] He laughed with pleasure when people said he looked like his dad. □ [V + at ] The British don't laugh at the same jokes as the French. □ [V with quote] 'I'll be astonished if I win on Sunday,' laughed Lyle. ● N‑COUNT Laugh is also a noun. □ [+ at ] Lysenko gave a deep rumbling laugh at his own joke.
2 VERB If people laugh at someone or something, they mock them or make jokes about them. □ [V + at ] I thought they were laughing at me because I was ugly.
3 PHRASE If you do something for a laugh or for laughs , you do it as a joke or for fun. □ They were persuaded onstage for a laugh by their mates. □ It's a project she's doing for laughs.
4 PHRASE If a person or their comment gets a laugh or raises a laugh , they make the people listening to them laugh. [mainly BRIT ] □ The joke got a big laugh, which encouraged me to continue.
5 PHRASE If you describe a situation as a laugh , a good laugh , or a bit of a laugh , you think that it is fun and do not take it too seriously. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ Working there's great. It's quite a good laugh actually.
6 PHRASE If you describe someone as a laugh or a good laugh , you like them because they are amusing and fun to be with. [mainly BRIT ] □ Mickey was a good laugh and great to have in the dressing room.
7 PHRASE If you say that you have the last laugh , you mean that you become successful at something so that people who criticize or oppose you look foolish. □ Perhaps these people take more care of themselves and so ultimately have the last laugh.
8 to laugh your head off → see head
9 no laughing matter → see matter
▸ laugh off PHRASAL VERB If you laugh off a difficult or serious situation, you try to suggest that it is amusing and unimportant, for example by making a joke about it. □ [V P n] The couple laughed off rumours that their marriage was in trouble. □ [V n P ] Whilst I used to laugh it off, I'm now getting irritated by it. COLLOCATIONS laugh VERB 1
laugh + adverb : heartily, hysterically, loudly, uproariously; nervously, softly
laugh|able /lɑː fəb ə l, læ f-/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you say that something such as an idea or suggestion is laughable , you mean that it is so stupid as to be funny and not worth serious consideration. □ The idea that she didn't know anything is laughable. ● laugh|ably ADV [usu ADV adj] □ To an outsider, the issues that we fight about would seem almost laughably petty.
lau gh|ing gas N‑UNCOUNT Laughing gas is a type of anaesthetic gas which sometimes has the effect of making people laugh uncontrollably.
laugh|ing|ly /lɑː f I ŋli, læ f-/ ADV [ADV with v] If you laughingly refer to something with a particular name or description, the description is not appropriate and you think that this is either amusing or annoying. □ I spent much of what I laughingly call 'the holidays' working through 621 pages of typescript.
lau gh|ing stock (laughing stocks ) also laughing-stock N‑COUNT If you say that a person or an organization has become a laughing stock , you mean that they are supposed to be important or serious but have been made to seem ridiculous. □ The truth must never get out. If it did she would be a laughing-stock. □ [+ of ] …his policies became the laughing stock of the financial community.
laugh|ter ◆◇◇ /lɑː ftə r , læ f-/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Laughter is the sound of people laughing, for example because they are amused or happy. □ Their laughter filled the corridor. □ He delivered the line perfectly, and everybody roared with laughter. □ …hysterical laughter.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Laughter is the fact of laughing, or the feeling of fun and amusement that you have when you are laughing. □ Pantomime is about bringing laughter to thousands. COLLOCATIONS laughter NOUN 1
adjective + laughter : helpless, hysterical, raucous, uncontrollable; derisive, hollow, nervous; canned
laughter + be + adjective : contagious, infectious
verb + laughter : draw, prompt, provoke
launch ◆◆◇ /lɔː ntʃ/ (launches , launching , launched )
1 VERB To launch a rocket, missile, or satellite means to send it into the air or into space. □ [V n] NASA plans to launch a satellite to study cosmic rays. □ [be V -ed] The rocket was launched early this morning. ● N‑VAR Launch is also a noun. □ [+ of ] This morning's launch of the space shuttle has been delayed.
2 VERB To launch a ship or a boat means to put it into water, often for the first time after it has been built. □ [V n] There was no time to launch the lifeboats because the ferry capsized with such alarming speed. ● N‑COUNT [usu with poss] Launch is also a noun. □ [+ of ] The launch of a ship was a big occasion.