Humor vs. Laughter — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Humor and Laughter
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Definitions
Humor
The quality that makes something laughable or amusing; funniness
Could not see the humor of the situation.
Laughter
Laughter is a physical reaction consisting usually of rhythmical, often audible contractions of the diaphragm and other parts of the respiratory system. It is a response to certain external or internal stimuli.
Humor
That which is intended to induce laughter or amusement
A writer skilled at crafting humor.
Laughter
The action or sound of laughing
He roared with laughter
Humor
The ability to perceive, enjoy, or express what is amusing, comical, incongruous, or absurd
"Man's sense of humor seems to be in inverse proportion to the gravity of his profession" (Mary Roberts Rinehart).
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Laughter
The act of laughing.
Humor
One of the four fluids of the body, blood, phlegm, choler, and black bile, whose relative proportions were thought in ancient and medieval physiology to determine a person's disposition and general health.
Laughter
The sound produced by laughing.
Humor
A body fluid, such as blood, lymph, or bile.
Laughter
(Archaic) A cause or subject for laughter.
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Humor
Aqueous humor.
Laughter
The sound of laughing, produced by air so expelled; any similar sound.
Their loud laughter betrayed their presence.
Humor
Vitreous humor.
Laughter
A movement (usually involuntary) of the muscles of the laughing face, particularly of the lips, and of the whole body, with a peculiar expression of the eyes, indicating merriment, satisfaction or derision, and usually attended by a sonorous and interrupted expulsion of air from the lungs.
Humor
A person's characteristic disposition or temperament
A boy of sullen humor.
Laughter
(archaic) A reason for merriment.
Humor
An often temporary state of mind; a mood
I'm in no humor to argue.
Laughter
The sound of laughing
Humor
A sudden, unanticipated inclination; a whim.
Laughter
The activity of laughing; the manifestation of joy or mirth of scorn;
He enjoyed the laughter of the crowd
Humor
Capricious or peculiar behavior.
Humor
To comply with the wishes or ideas of (another) in order to keep that person satisfied or unaware of criticism; indulge
"When she was convinced a man was giving her the eye, we humored her and agreed" (Jhumpa Lahiri).
Humor
To adapt or accommodate oneself to
Humored his uncle's peculiarities.
Humor
Alternative spelling of humour
He was in a particularly vile humor that afternoon.
Humor
Alternative spelling of humour
I know you don't believe my story, but humor me for a minute and imagine it to be true.
Humor
Moisture, especially, the moisture or fluid of animal bodies, as the chyle, lymph, etc.; as, the humors of the eye, etc.
Humor
A vitiated or morbid animal fluid, such as often causes an eruption on the skin.
Humor
State of mind, whether habitual or temporary (as formerly supposed to depend on the character or combination of the fluids of the body); disposition; temper; mood; as, good humor; ill humor.
Examine how your humor is inclined,And which the ruling passion of your mind.
A prince of a pleasant humor.
I like not the humor of lying.
Humor
Changing and uncertain states of mind; caprices; freaks; vagaries; whims.
Is my friend all perfection, all virtue and discretion? Has he not humors to be endured?
Humor
That quality of the imagination which gives to ideas an incongruous or fantastic turn, and tends to excite laughter or mirth by ludicrous images or representations; a playful fancy; facetiousness.
For thy sake I admitThat a Scot may have humor, I'd almost said wit.
A great deal of excellent humor was expended on the perplexities of mine host.
Humor
To comply with the humor of; to adjust matters so as suit the peculiarities, caprices, or exigencies of; to adapt one's self to; to indulge by skillful adaptation; as, to humor the mind.
It is my part to invent, and the musician's to humor that invention.
Humor
To help on by indulgence or compliant treatment; to soothe; to gratify; to please.
You humor me when I am sick.
Humor
A message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
Humor
The trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous;
She didn't appreciate my humor
You can't survive in the army without a sense of humor
Humor
A characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling;
Whether he praised or cursed me depended on his temper at the time
He was in a bad humor
Humor
The quality of being funny;
I fail to see the humor in it
Humor
(Middle Ages) one of the four fluids in the body whose balance was believed to determine your emotional and physical state;
The humors are blood and phlegm and yellow and black bile
Humor
The liquid parts of the body
Humor
Put into a good mood
