verb / noun
chuckle
CHUHK-ul/tʃˈʌkʌl/
A quiet, soft laugh or the act of laughing this way.
The young man chuckles softly with his curled fingers near his mouth.
Etymology
A repeated clucking noise supplied the image for laughter. Chuckle originally meant laughing loudly, then shifted to suppressed or subdued laughter—the quiet sense used today.
In context
You know, that people might chuckle or look at you funny, or tease you, but that's okay, because you'll be able to see when they are losing their vision, so you'll get the last laugh.
More examples
- He chuckles softly at the familiar joke.
- A warm chuckle breaks the silence.
- They chuckled together over the old photograph.
Forms
chuckle · chuckles · chuckled · chuckling
Similar words
- giggle
- A giggle is often lighter or higher-pitched; a chuckle is typically a low quiet laugh.