guffaw

/gʌ'fɔ:/

Friendly

Sure! Let's break down the word "guffaw" together.

Definition:

• Guffaw (noun): A loud and hearty laugh.
• Guffaw (verb): To laugh loudly and boisterously.

Usage Instructions:

You can use "guffaw" when you want to describe a very loud and joyful laugh. It’s usually used to express that something is very funny!

Examples:

• As a noun: "When he told the joke, everyone in the room had a good guffaw."
• As a verb: "She guffawed at the comedian's funny story."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced contexts, you might use "guffaw" to describe not just laughter, but the atmosphere of joy and humor in a situation. For example: "The audience guffawed in delight at the unexpected twist in the play."

Word Variants:

• Guffawed (past tense): "He guffawed when he heard the punchline."
• Guffawing (present participle): "They were guffawing so loudly that they startled the people at the next table."

Different Meanings:

"Guffaw" primarily refers to loud laughter, but in a more informal context, it can also imply that someone is laughing at something ridiculous or absurd.

Synonyms:

Some words that mean similar things include: - Belly laugh - Roar of laughter - Cackle - Chuckle (though "chuckle" is quieter)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While "guffaw" itself doesn't have direct idioms or phrasal verbs, you might hear phrases like: - "Laugh one's head off" – To laugh very hard. - "Burst out laughing" – To suddenly start laughing loudly.

Summary:

In summary, "guffaw" is a fun word to describe a loud, hearty laugh. It's a great way to express joy and humor, and you can use it in both its noun and verb forms.

Academic

Noun

1. a burst of deep loud hearty laughter

Verb

1. laugh boisterously

Synonyms

• belly laugh
• laugh loudly