titter
titter — verb
- titterpresent simple I / you / we / they
- titters3rd person singular
- tittering-ing form
- titteredpast simple
1. to let out a short, quiet laugh because you feel nervous or embarrassed, especia
to let out a short, quiet laugh because you feel nervous or embarrassed, especially when something slightly rude or awkward happens and you know you should not find it funny.
The Watanabe children tittered behind their hands when the speaker's false teeth slipped during the speech.
titter behind one's hands — suppressing the laugh
A few guests tittered nervously as the bride's father told a mildly inappropriate joke at the wedding dinner.
The librarian tried not to titter when a boy asked loudly why the man in the poster had no hair.
Students in the front row tittered at the funny noise made by the old wooden chair during the exam.
Several colleagues tittered awkwardly when the manager's toupee fell into the birthday cake at the office party.
- giggle
giggle is more common and does not carry the same sense of awkwardness or impropriety — children giggle freely
- snicker
snicker suggests meanness or mockery, while titter is more about nervousness than malice
- snigger
snigger (chiefly British) is closer in meaning but carries a stronger hint of rudeness or disrespect
- roar with laughter
a loud, unrestrained laugh, the opposite of a suppressed titter
文法句型
titter at [something]
titter about [something]
用法筆記
Frequently used with an adverbial modifier (nervously, awkwardly, quietly) or a prepositional phrase introduced by 'at' or 'about' to indicate the cause of the laughter.
常見錯誤
titter — noun
- tittersingular
- tittersplural
1. a short, quiet laugh that shows nervousness or embarrassment, often one that peo
a short, quiet laugh that shows nervousness or embarrassment, often one that people try to hide because the situation is slightly awkward or not meant to be funny.
A nervous titter ran through the crowd when the singer forgot the words to her own song.
a titter ran through [group] — spread across the group
The night-shift nurse heard a muffled titter from the waiting room and went to check what was happening.
Dr. Okafor's announcement was met with a titter of embarrassment from the staff in the meeting room.
There was a brief titter from the back of the theatre when the actor's chair tipped over on stage.
- roar
a full-throated loud laugh, the opposite of a suppressed titter
文法句型
a titter (from [someone])
a titter (of [something])
用法筆記
Often singular — 'a titter' or 'a titter of [emotion]'. Less commonly used in the plural ('titters'). Collocates strongly with prepositions 'of' (nervousness, embarrassment) and 'from' (indicating the source).