LOL(also written as lol in other languages) is a common term which is catagorised under "internet slang" The term is widely known around the world, and the term has even speard to the extent where people say it face to face. It is an expression of "Laugh out loud, Laughing out loud, Loads of laughter" The term lol is less frequently known as "loads of love, lots of love or Lots of luck"
over 90% of the time, people aren't really laughing when the term lol is used, although LOL written out as capitals, has greater chance of the person laughing.
Variations on the term are as follows:
lal or lawl: The pronounciation of lol, phonetically correct.
Lolz: Frequently used in place of lol
lulz: Is frequently used being a corruption of lol.
mdr: A French expression of "lol", initials stand for "Mort de rire" translates to "Dying of laughter"
555: Is the thailand variation, 5 is pronounced as "ha" in Thai, therefore 555 would be "hahaha"
asg: Sweedish abbreviation of the term asgrav, meaning Intensive Laughter.
Kek: Founded from the popular online game known as World Of Warcraft, it's the hordes translation to lol.
kik: An easily made typo of the term lol, understandable from most people, as the "O" is directly above the "L" and the "K" is next to the "L" with the "I" directly above the "K"
The word lol is also used when the distrubuter of the word doesn't have anything to say in response, therefore he will use the term lol, hoping the other guy will elaborate on what he said, or change the topic all together.

The name 'Lol' is an abreviated form of the name 'Laurence'.

It's original definition was "Laughing out loud" (also written occasionally as "Lots of Laughs"), used as a brief acronym to denote great amusement in chat conversations.

Now, it is overused to the point where nobody laughs out loud when they say it. In fact, they probably don't even give a shit about what you just wrote. More accurately, the acronym "lol" should be redefined as "Lack of laughter."

Depending on the chatter, its definition may vary. The list of its meanings includes, but is not limited to:
1) "I have nothing worthwhile to contribute to this conversation."
2) "I'm too lazy to read what you just wrote so I'm typing something useless in hopes that you'll think I'm still paying attention."
3) "Your statement lacks even the vaguest trace of humor but I'll pretend I'm amused."
4) "This is a pointless acronym I'm sticking in my sentence just because it's become so engraved into my mind that when chatting, I MUST use the meaningless sentence-filler 'lol.'"

See: lmao, lmfao, rofl, lawl, heh, haha, lolol, and 120

lol - originally meant "laughing out loud", but now is the most common expression in any text conversation, just used instead of HAHA or any giggle or something like that. Also used all the time when there's nothing else to say... LOL key should be added to a standard keyboard.

It stands for "laughing out loud." A slight irony to this definition is that generally people don't literally laugh out loud. That's reserved for other acronyms such as, but not limited to, LMMFAO, LMAO, ROTFLMAO, etc. Lol is most commonly used as a slience breaker, a reply to a joke that is SUPPOSED to be funny but really isn't, or an answer to an uncomfortable or random statement that one couldn't think of a better response to.

Originally meant "laughing out loud" but is now so overused that it now means "I find that vaguely amusing" also a filler word now when there is a puse in the conversation or the person is lost for a response, or they are too stupid or lazy to think of one.

A term commonly used on the internet when you're not really paying attention, or have nothing to say.

1. Computer slang for "Laughing out Loud"
2. A phrase meaning to laugh. Mostly used by n00bs

See also: lmao, stfu