Definition

Noun: 1. The point of a joke or humorous story: The part of a joke or anecdote that is intended to be the funniest and provoke laughter. 2. A wrinkle in the skin at the outer corner of your eyes: A small, permanent crease or line in the skin, often radiating from the outer corner of the eye, typically associated with frequent smiling or laughing.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Meaning 1: Joke's point):
  • The comedian paused before delivering the laugh line, building anticipation.
  • He forgot the laugh line of his own story, so the punchline fell flat.
• Noun (Meaning 2: Facial wrinkle):
  • Her face was marked by deep laugh lines, a testament to a happy life.
  • Some people consider laugh lines to be attractive signs of character and joy.

Advanced Usage

• In scriptwriting: A "laugh line" is a line of dialogue specifically written to get a laugh from the audience. It is a critical element in comedies and sitcoms.
  • The writer spent hours polishing the laugh lines in the third act.

Variants and Related Words

• Punchline (noun): A synonym for the first meaning (the point of a joke). While often used interchangeably, "punchline" is more common for the final, climactic funny line of a joke.
• Crow's feet (noun): An informal, common synonym for the second meaning (wrinkles at the eye corner). This term specifically refers to the pattern of lines that resemble a bird's foot.

Synonyms

• For Meaning 1 (Joke's point): Punchline, zinger, payoff.
• For Meaning 2 (Facial wrinkle): Crow's feet, character lines.

Related Idioms

• To get a laugh line: To successfully deliver the funny part of a joke so that the audience laughs.
  • The actor really knows how to get a laugh line.
• Lines of laughter: A poetic or descriptive phrase referring to laugh lines (Meaning 2).
  • His face was etched with lines of laughter.

Noun

1. the point of a joke or humorous story
2. a wrinkle in the skin at the outer corner of your eyes