Definition

1. Verb:
   • To make a short, sharp, broken laugh or cry, often resembling the sound of a hen.
   • To make a series of short, sharp, cracking sounds, like a fire burning.

Usage

• As a verb, "cackle" is used to describe a specific type of sound. It often implies a loud, broken, and sometimes harsh quality.
• It is commonly used with subjects that produce such sounds, such as hens, witches, or fires.

Examples

• Describing a laugh or cry:
  • The old witch began to cackle with glee.
  • The hens cackle loudly after laying an egg.
• Describing a crackling sound:
  • The dry logs cackled in the fireplace.
  • The fire cackled cozily, warming the room.

Advanced Usage

• "to cackle at/over something": to laugh in a cackling manner about something.
  • The group cackled at the comedian's joke.
• "to cackle with laughter": to laugh in a loud, broken way.
  • She cackled with laughter until tears streamed down her face.

Variants and Related Words

• Cackle (noun): The sound itself.
  • The cackle of the hyena echoed in the night.
• Cackler (noun): A person or thing that cackles.
  • The hen was a noisy cackler.

Synonyms

• Chuckle: A quiet or suppressed laugh. (Softer than a cackle)
• Giggle: A light, silly laugh. (Higher-pitched and more delicate)
• Guffaw: A loud, boisterous laugh. (Deeper and more robust than a cackle)
• Crackle: To make a series of slight, sharp snapping noises. (Often used for inanimate objects like fire or static)

Phrasal Verbs

Related Idioms

• "Cut the cackle": (British English, informal) A phrase meaning to stop talking nonsense or idle chatter and get to the point.
  • Alright, cut the cackle and tell me what really happened.

Verb

1. make a cackling sound
   • The fire cackled cozily