laugh vs smile

laugh

verb
  • To express by, or utter with, laughter. 

  • To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of the face and eyes, and usually accompanied by the emission of explosive or chuckling sounds from the chest and throat; to indulge in laughter. 

  • To make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun of; to deride; to mock. 

  • To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule. 

noun
  • A fun person. 

  • An expression of mirth particular to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter. 

  • Something that provokes mirth or scorn. 

smile

verb
  • To express by smiling. 

  • To have (a smile) on one's face. 

  • To express amusement, pleasure, or love and kindness. 

  • To be propitious or favourable; to countenance. 

  • To look cheerful and joyous; to have an appearance suited to excite joy. 

noun
  • Favour; propitious regard. 

  • A facial expression comprised by flexing the muscles of both ends of one's mouth, often showing the front teeth, without vocalisation, and in humans is a common involuntary or voluntary expression of happiness, pleasure, amusement, goodwill, or anxiety. 

How often have the words laugh and smile occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )