hiss

Hiss is defined as to make the sound of a snake or a long s.

(verb)

An example of to hiss is to go "ssssssss."

The definition of a hiss is the sound of an angry animal or of escaping air or steam, or the sound of a long s.

(noun)

An example of a hiss is the sound of a snake in distress.

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See hiss in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

  1. to make a sound like that of a prolonged s, as of a goose or snake when provoked or alarmed, or of escaping steam, air, etc.
  2. to show dislike or disapproval of by hissing

Origin: ME hissen, of echoic orig.

transitive verb

  1. to say or indicate by hissing
  2. to show dislike or disapproval of by hissing
  3. to force or drive by hissing: to hiss a performer off the stage

noun

the act or sound of hissing

Related Forms:

Hiss, Alger 1904-96; U.S. public official: accused of espionage and convicted of perjury

See hiss in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A sharp sibilant sound similar to a sustained s.
  2. An expression of disapproval, contempt, or dissatisfaction conveyed by use of this sound.
verb hissed, hiss·ing, hiss·es
verb, intransitive
To make a hiss: The audience booed and hissed. The teakettle hissed on the stove.
verb, transitive
  1. To utter with a hiss:
  2. To express (a negative view or reaction) by uttering a hiss: The audience hissed its displeasure.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English hissen, to hiss

Origin: , of imitative origin

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Related Forms:

  • hissˈer noun

American public official. Accused of espionage at the height of the Communist scare, he was convicted of perjury (1950) in a controversial case.

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