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Glite Dictionary
😄 A soft laugh 😄 To laugh quietly
chuckle

chuckle

303 1.8
A quiet laugh you try to keep inside
  • noun
  • /ˈtʃʌkəl/
translation icon : risita
  • "What fun!" he said, and with a chuckle, he was gone.

You may give a sort of rueful post karmic chuckle, but beyond that you kind of just shrug and keep going.

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Examples

  • And then, with a chuckle, he disappeared into the darkness along the line.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Several dark elves turned to regard the incident, then gave quiet chuckles and went back to their conversations.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • I'd go a mile for a chuckle.

    Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

  • "Thank the Lord for small blessings," he said, and a small chuckle rumbled through his chest.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • When she reached home, Aunty sat in grave meditation, interrupted only by a chuckle from the child.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • There came a warm chuckle behind her, and Larissa leaped up, tense and ready to defend herself.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Hiding his embarrassment behind a chuckle, DeKoven said to me, "I wanted to thank you for your help, Stryker."

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The patent's approval got headlines around the country and eye-rolling chuckles from millions.

    Academic text (2010)

  • "A call to play," Bruenor corrected, and he exchanged a nod and chuckle with Drizzt.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Everyone in the room shared a soft chuckle when the clown tripped over his own feet.

Synonyms

laugh
vschuckle
691 1.0

The sound or face people make when they find something funny

is a softer partly suppressed version rather than a broad reaction
giggle
vschuckle
125 1.1

A light laugh that sounds silly or nervous

is quieter and more controlled rather than light and nervous
chortle
vschuckle
4 7.5

A quiet laugh of pleasure partly held back

is more restrained and less gleeful in emotional tone

How Amused

to roar
17 2.4
to laugh
∞ 1.0
chuckle
303 1.8
giggle
125 1.1
titter
3 7.2

Surface Forms

chuckle singular
chuckles plural

Morphology

chuckle = chuck (opaque) = chuck + le

Although the form suggests 'chuck' + the frequentative suffix '-le', the meaning 'soft, suppressed laugh' is not derivable from the common sense of 'chuck' and is likely onomatopoeic or irregular.

Etymology

The word chuckle comes from the small sound 'chuck', a soft noise like a hen's 'cluck'. The little ending -le shows a repeated or gentle action, so a chuckle is a quiet, partly hidden laugh.