May be thrown out after some laughter (8)
I believe the answer is:
hawthorn
'may' is the definition.
(may is another name for the hawthorn tree)
'thrown out after some laughter' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
an anagram of 'thrown' is 'wthorn' which is within the answer.
'some' could be 'a' and 'a' is located in the answer.
A single letter 'h' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'be' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hawthorn that I've seen before include "Small spring-blooming tree" , "fruit supplier" , "Hedgerow bush" , "Spring-flowering small tree with small dark red fruit" , "Prickly shrub" .)