guffaw

UK: ɡəˈfɔː | US: ɡəˈfɔː

Definition

  1. n. a loud, unrestrained burst of laughter

  2. vi. to laugh loudly and boisterously

Structure

No data yet.

Etymology

"Guffaw" is an onomatopoeic word, mimicking the sound of hearty laughter. It emerged in the early 18th century, likely from Scots or dialectal English, where "guff" and "aw" were used to represent bursts of laughter. The word’s structure reflects its playful, sound-based origin, making it vivid and memorable.

Examples

  1. His joke provoked a guffaw from the audience.

  2. She couldn’t help but guffaw at the absurd situation.

  3. The room erupted in guffaws when the comedian slipped on stage.

  4. A deep guffaw echoed through the hallway.

  5. He tried to stifle his guffaw during the serious meeting.