Library / English Dictionary

GIGGLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A foolish or nervous laugh

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

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

laugh; laughter (the sound of laughing)

Derivation:

giggle (laugh nervously)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Laugh nervously

Example:

The girls giggled when the rock star came into the classroom

Synonyms:

giggle; titter

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

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

express joy; express mirth; laugh (produce laughter)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

giggle (a foolish or nervous laugh)

giggler (a person who laughs nervously)

Credits

 Context examples: 

A type of schizophrenia characterized by frequent incoherence; marked loosening of associations, or grossly disorganized behavior and flat or grossly inappropriate affect that does not meet the criteria for the catatonic type; associated features include extreme social withdrawal, grimacing, mannerisms, mirror gazing, inappropriate giggling, and other odd behavior.

(Disorganized Type Schizophrenia, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

The man giggled in his venomous way.

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

I'll gossip and giggle, and have horrors and raptures over any trifle you like.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"I was," Jim went on with a boastful, nervous giggle.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

If you already have children, spend more time with them, and possibly take them to a fun vacation at January’s end for bushels of giggles are guaranteed.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Their visit was not so still as Miss Ingram's had been: we heard hysterical giggling and little shrieks proceeding from the library; and at the end of about twenty minutes they burst the door open, and came running across the hall, as if they were half-scared out of their wits.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

But remember,’ he added, tapping me lightly on the chest and giggling, ‘if you speak to a human soul about this—one human soul, mind—well, may God have mercy upon your soul!

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

Poor Jo would gladly have gone under the table, as one thing after another was tasted and left, while Amy giggled, Meg looked distressed, Miss Crocker pursed her lips, and Laurie talked and laughed with all his might to give a cheerful tone to the festive scene.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The black-eyed girl smiled gratification and greeting, and showed signs of stopping, while her companion, arm linked in arm, giggled and likewise showed signs of halting.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He spoke in a nervous, jerky fashion, and with little giggling laughs in between, but somehow he impressed me with fear more than the other.

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