hoot

1 a loud vocal expression of strong emotion <the courtroom erupted in hoots of laughter upon hearing the witness's sarcastic retort> Synonyms cry, holler, shout, howl, whoop, yell, yowlRelated Words ejaculation, interjection; scream, screech, shriek, shrill, squall, squeak, squeal, yelp; bawl, bellow, clamor, outcry, roar; caterwaul, plaint, wailNear Antonyms mumble, murmur, mutter; gasp, whimper, whisper

2 a vocal sound made to express scorn or disapproval <he ignored the hoots and jeers coming from the back of the crowd and kept on speaking> Synonyms bird [chiefly British], boo, Bronx cheer, hiss, catcall, jeer, raspberry, razz, snortRelated Words smirk, sneer, snicker, snigger; gibe (or jibe), put-down, taunt; whistleNear Antonyms applause, clappingAntonyms cheer

3 the smallest amount or part imaginable <I don't give a hoot whether you want to go or not—you're going> Synonyms beans, bubkes (also bupkes or bupkus), continental, damn, darn (also durn), diddly [slang], diddly-squat [slang], doodley-squat (or doodly-squat), fig, ghost, jot, iota, lick, modicum, rap, squat [slang], syllable, tittle, whit, whoopRelated Words ace, bit, crumb, dab, driblet, glimmer, hint, little, mite, nip, ounce, particle, peanuts, pin, ray, scrap, scruple, semblance, shade, shadow, shred, skosh, smidgen (also smidgeon or smidgin or smidge), snap, speck, spot, sprinkling, strain, streak, suspicion, touch, trace

4 someone or something that is very funny <that stand-up comic is a hoot all right, if endless bathroom jokes propel you into paroxysms of laughter> Synonyms scream, knee-slapper, laugh, riotRelated Words boner, howler; crack, gag, jest, joke, pleasantry, quip, sally, waggery, wisecrack, witticism; caution, sightNear Antonyms bummer, downer