laugh-out-loud
UK[ˌlɑːf aʊt ˈlaʊd]US[ˌlæf aʊt ˈlaʊd]
adj
Describes something that is extremely funny and causes someone to laugh loudly and uncontrollably.
Morpheme Breakdown
laugh
out
loud
laugh
to laugh, rejoice, exult.
out
out, outside, away.
loud
making a great noise, sonorous.
Etymology
The phrase "laugh out loud" is a modern English compound formed from three distinct Old English elements. "Laugh" originates from the Proto-Germanic klakhjan, itself from the Proto-Indo-European root kleg-, meaning "to shout." The adverbial particle "out" intensifies the action, suggesting a laugh that bursts forth. "Loud" comes from the Proto-Germanic hlūdaz, from the PIE root kleu-, meaning "to hear." The literal combination, "to laugh out (in a) loud (manner)," evolved in the late 20th century, particularly with the rise of digital communication, to become a hyphenated adjective describing content so humorous it provokes audible, unrestrained laughter.
Analysis
Structure: laugh + out + loud
- laugh: From Old English hlæhhan, meaning "to laugh, rejoice, exult." It functions as the core verb indicating the action.
- out: From Old English ūt, meaning "out, outside, away." It functions as an adverbial particle intensifying the action.
- loud: From Old English hlūd, meaning "making a great noise, sonorous." It functions as an adjective describing the manner of the action.
Examples
The book is full of laugh-out-loud moments from start to finish.
It was a laugh-out-loud funny performance that had the entire audience in stitches.
He told a laugh-out-loud story about his first day at work.