chuckle

  • 1Chuckle — Chuc kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Chuckled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Chuckling}.] [From 1st {Chuck}.] 1. To call, as a hen her chickens; to cluck. [Obs.] Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. To fondle; to cocker. [Obs.] Dryden. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2Chuckle — Chuc kle, n. A short, suppressed laugh; the expression of satisfaction, exultation, or derision. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3Chuckle — Chuc kle, v. i. [From 1st {Chuck}.] To laugh in a suppressed or broken manner, as expressing inward satisfaction, exultation, or derision. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4chuckle — (v.) 1590s, frequentative of M.E. chukken make a clucking noise (late 14c.), of echoic origin. It originally meant noisy laughter. Chucklehead blockhead (18c.) is perhaps connected with CHUCK (Cf. chuck) (v.). Related: Chuckled; chuckling. The… …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 5chuckle — [v] giggle cackle, chortle, crow, exult, guffaw, hee haw*, laugh, smile, snicker, snigger, sniggle, teehee*, titter; concept 77 …

    New thesaurus

  • 6chuckle — ► VERB ▪ laugh quietly or inwardly. ► NOUN ▪ a quiet laugh. ORIGIN from obsolete chuck to cluck …

    English terms dictionary

  • 7chuckle — [chuk′əl] vi. chuckled, chuckling [prob. < CHUCK3 + freq. suffix le] to laugh softly in a low tone, as in mild amusement n. a soft, low toned laugh SYN. LAUGH chuckler n …

    English World dictionary

  • 8chuckle — I n. 1) to have; let out a chuckle (we had a good chuckle) 2) a hearty chuckle 3) a chuckle about, over II v. 1) (D; intr.) to chuckle about, over 2) (D; intr.) to chuckle to (to chuckle to oneself) 3) (D; intr.) to chuckle with (to chuckle with… …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 9chuckle — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun ADJECTIVE ▪ light, little, quiet, slight, soft ▪ deep, low ▪ hearty …

    Collocations dictionary

  • 10chuckle — UK [ˈtʃʌk(ə)l] / US verb [intransitive] Word forms chuckle : present tense I/you/we/they chuckle he/she/it chuckles present participle chuckling past tense chuckled past participle chuckled to laugh quietly, especially in a private or secret way… …

    English dictionary