ha-ha
interjectionnounverbnouncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈhɑːhɑː//
- United States//ˈhɑˌhɑ//
An approximation of the sound of laughter.
interjection
- 1
An approximation of the sound of laughter.
Etymology
] Imitative.
noun
- 1
A laugh.
His ha-ha grated on our ears as he fled down the stairs three steps at a time with us in hot pursuit.
Ha-has from both sides of the door.
We had a fine dinner, punctuated with Heidi's loud ha-has and lots of wine.
Not just giggles or a few ha-has, but the paralyzing kind of laughter, when the eyes tear and the nose runs and one gasps seemingly unto apoplexy.
- 2
Something funny; a joke.
Durty Nelly's, […] You'll catch a few ha-has and even a golden memory or two singing along with the house piano player.
She is not rewarded until she learns to reduce her expectations, and surprises (the ha-has of this novel) are the educational tool.
If Kathy had been with us, she'd have countered with a few ha-has of her own, thus guaranteeing a laugh at his expense.
verb
- 1
To laugh.
He was much affected, said it was his lullaby when he was a baby, that she must stop or she would have him boo-hoo-ing right out. But he was ha-ha-ing a few moments after, and begging her “To take him for her lover, and let all those inconstant swains glide, they were not worth one of those invaluable pearls he saw in her eyes, when he met her.”
Out with the fashion that will let a man smile, but pronounces him vulgar if he ha-ha’s.
She ha-ha’d like a boy over the sport.
Though somewhat worn and excited, with several respectable swellings as a reminder of his experience with the new bait the boys had provided, he ha-ha-ed at the practical joke and carried it home with him that evening as the most enjoyable part of the afternoon’s trip.
noun
- 1
A ditch with one vertical side, acting as a sunken fence, designed to block the entry of animals into lawns and parks without breaking sightlines.
A few steps farther brought them out at the bottom of the very walk they had been talking of; and standing back, well shaded and sheltered, and looking over a ha-ha into the park, was a comfortable-sized bench, on which they all sat down.
A moody stroll through the oaks and bracken beyond the ha-ha didn't help.
Etymology
From French haha, supposedly from ha! as an expression of surprise.
Forms
- plural
- ha-has
- past tense
- ha-haed, ha-ha'd, ha-ha'ed, ha-ha-ed
- past participle
- ha-haed, ha-ha'd, ha-ha'ed, ha-ha-ed
- present participle
- ha-haing, ha-ha'ing, ha-ha-ing
- third person singular
- ha-has, ha-ha's
ha-ha · An approximation of the sound of laughter.
habit · An action performed on a regular basis.habitat · Conditions suitable for an organism or population of…hack · To chop or cut down in a rough manner.