rhizoverbBeta
DictionarygiggleLight laughter
noun / verb

giggle

GIG-ul/ˈɡɪɡl/

A light, silly, or nervous laugh, or to laugh this way.

The man giggles at the tiny party hat perched on his fingertip.

An older man suppresses a small, silly laugh while looking at a tiny paper party hat perched on his fingertip.
Etymology

Giggle probably imitates the sound of laughter. The evidence does not identify older roots that specifically account for its light, silly, or nervous quality.

In context

Georgia Tech45:38
that that would be a weird kind of artifact it would be like a matchbox that you opened and you would either shriek or you would laugh or you would giggle uncontrollably
Keynote Panel Discussion: John Romero, Christiane Paul, Harvey Smith, Richard Lemarchand

More examples

  • A nervous giggle escapes her before she answers the question.
  • We giggled at the silly names on the menu.
  • She tries to stifle her giggles during the meeting.

Forms

giggle · giggles · giggled · giggling

giggly adjective — Likely to laugh lightly and often.

Similar words

chuckle
A quiet laugh, usually less silly or nervous.
snicker
A partly suppressed laugh, often expressing mockery or disrespect.
laugh
The broader term, without specifying lightness, silliness, or nervousness.