chuckle

Everyday

1. To laugh quietly, often with your mouth closed, because something is amusing. tree →
2. A soft, quiet laugh. tree →

In the lessons

In stories it tells the reader a character is gently amused, not roaring with laughter; it often fits a kind grandparent or a sly villain. In writing lessons, it is one of many laughing verbs: giggle, chuckle, chortle, snigger, cackle, guffaw. Phrase: «have a chuckle».

Examples

• Grandpa chuckled at his own joke. tree →
• She gave a little chuckle as she read the comic. tree →
• The audience chuckled at the funny line. tree →
• «Very clever,» he chuckled. tree →
• We had a good chuckle about the muddy football match. tree →
• The sly fox chuckled to himself. tree →
• “Hah!” said Kaa with a chuckle, “he has friends everywhere, this manling. tree →

Note

Regular verb: chuckled, chuckling (drop the e). Countable noun: a chuckle. Laughing words from soft to loud: chuckle, giggle, laugh, guffaw, roar. A «snigger» is an unkind laugh.