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Definition of laughingthrush
laughingthrush
/ˈlæf.ɪŋˌθrʌʃ/
laugh · ing · thrush
Plural:laughingthrushes
laughingthrush Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of numerous Old World passerine birds primarily in the family Leiothrichidae, native to the forests and scrublands of tropical and subtropical Asia, characterized by their thrush-like appearance and loud, highly social, chattering calls.
Example
"A flock of white-crested laughingthrushes moved swiftly through the dense bamboo undergrowth, their raucous calls echoing through the forest."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for laughingthrushWord Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'laughing' and 'thrush', coined in the 19th century to describe the bird's distinctive, loud, chattering calls that often resemble a chorus of human laughter, combined with its physical resemblance to true thrushes.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Laughingthrush. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/laughingthrush