chuckle

chuck·le

verb \ˈchə-k^əl\

chuck·ledchuck·ling

Definition of CHUCKLE

intransitive verb

1

: to laugh inwardly or quietly

2

: to make a continuous gentle sound resembling suppressed mirth <the clear bright water chuckled over gravel — B. A. Williams>

— chuckle noun

— chuck·le·some \-səm\ adjective

— chuck·ling·ly \-iŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of CHUCKLE

1. She chuckled at the memory of what he had said.
2. <everyone dutifully chuckled at the professor's intended jokes>

Origin of CHUCKLE

probably frequentative of ¹chuck

First Known Use: circa 1770

Related to CHUCKLE

Synonyms: break up, cackle, chortle, laugh, crack up, giggle, hee-haw, roar, scream, snicker, titter, twitter

Related Words: grin, smile

Near Antonyms: bawl, blubber, cry, sob, weep; howl, scream, squall, wail, yowl; bleat, pule, whimper, whine; sniffle, snivel; groan, moan, sigh

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Rhymes with CHUCKLE

buccal, buckle, knuckle, suckle, truckle