CHUCKLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does chuckle mean? 

• CHUCKLE (noun)
  The noun CHUCKLE has 1 sense:

1. a soft partly suppressed laugh

  Familiarity information: CHUCKLE used as a noun is very rare.

• CHUCKLE (verb)
  The verb CHUCKLE has 1 sense:

1. laugh quietly or with restraint

  Familiarity information: CHUCKLE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CHUCKLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A soft partly suppressed laugh

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

chortle; chuckle

Hypernyms ("chuckle" is a kind of...):

laugh; laughter (the sound of laughing)

Derivation:

chuckle (laugh quietly or with restraint)

• CHUCKLE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they chuckle    ... he / she / it chuckles   
Past simple: chuckled   
Past participle: chuckled   
-ing form: chuckling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Laugh quietly or with restraint

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

chortle; chuckle; laugh softly

Hypernyms (to "chuckle" is one way to...):

express joy; express mirth; laugh (produce laughter)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

chuckle (a soft partly suppressed laugh)

 Context examples 

Lord! how he'll chuckle over this news!

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

“He! he! You are a funny one,” chuckled the inspector.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“And you might add of the attempted murder of one Sherlock Holmes,” remarked my friend with a chuckle.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Holmes rubbed his hands and chuckled with delight.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"It is not a good name," Old Kinoos chuckled.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

“I wish the friends were younger,” chuckled Dr. Lanyon.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Brissenden panted and gasped painfully for a moment, then began to chuckle.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“One more step, Mr. Hands,” said I, “and I'll blow your brains out! Dead men don't bite, you know,” I added with a chuckle.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

As I glanced up from reading this enigmatical message, I saw Holmes chuckling at the expression upon my face.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Then with a little confidential chuckle of laughter, he patted me two or three times on the chest, finally pushing me back into my chair.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)