laughter

laughter
laugh‧ter /ˈlɑːftə $ ˈlæftər/ noun [uncountable]when people laugh, or the sound of people laughing:
    Foster joined in the laughter.
    He looked shocked, then burst into laughter (=started laughing).
    roar/scream/shriek with laughter (=laugh very loudly)
    Audiences roared with laughter.
    He shook with laughter.
    peals/gales/howls etc of laughter (=loud laughs)
    The comment brought peals of laughter from her classmates.
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs
   ▪ burst into laughter (=suddenly start laughing) Flora burst into laughter when I told her the joke.
   ▪ roar with laughter (=laugh very noisily) The crowd roared with laughter.
   ▪ scream/shriek with laughter (=laugh very noisily and with a high voice) The children shrieked with laughter as they watched the clown.
   ▪ shake with laughter They were shaking with laughter and couldn't even speak.
   ▪ meet/greet something with laughter (=react to something by laughing) Her remarks were greeted with mocking laughter.
   ▪ the laughter dies (down) (=stops) The laughter died instantly as Robert walked in.
■ phrases
   ▪ peals/hoots/gales of laughter (=a lot of loud laughter) This idea was greeted with hoots of laughter.
   ▪ a fit of laughter (=a period in which you laugh uncontrollably) Her funny stories had us in fits of laughter.
   ▪ a burst of laughter (=a short period of loud laughter) There was a loud burst of laughter behind me.
■ adjectives
   ▪ hysterical laughter (=laughter that is out of control because someone is very excited, nervous etc) She burst into hysterical laughter.
   ▪ helpless laughter (=that someone cannot control) The audience were in fits of helpless laughter.
   ▪ nervous laughter (=because someone is nervous and not sure how to react) Nervous laughter greeted her remarks.
   ▪ raucous laughter (=loud and rough-sounding) His attempt to explain was greeted with raucous laughter.
   ▪ suppressed laughter (=when someone tries not to laugh) He began to shake with suppressed laughter.