HISS

boo, hoot, Bronx cheer, hiss, raspberry, razzing, razz, snort, bird

(noun) a cry or noise made to express displeasure or contempt

hiss, hissing, hushing, fizzle, sibilation

(noun) a fricative sound (especially as an expression of disapproval); “the performers could not be heard over the hissing of the audience”

boo, hiss

(verb) show displeasure, as after a performance or speech

hiss, siss, sizz, sibilate

(verb) make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval

hiss, sizz, siss, sibilate

(verb) express or utter with a hiss

hiss, whoosh

(verb) move with a whooshing sound

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

hiss (plural hisses)

A sibilant sound, such as that made by a snake or escaping steam; an unvoiced fricative.

An expression of disapproval made using such a sound.

Verb

hiss (third-person singular simple present hisses, present participle hissing, simple past and past participle hissed)

(intransitive) To make a hissing sound.

(transitive, intransitive) To condemn or express contempt (for someone or something) by hissing.

(transitive) To utter (something) with a hissing sound.

(intransitive) To move with a hissing sound.

(transitive) To emit or eject (something) with a hissing sound.

(transitive) To whisper, especially angrily or urgently.

Anagrams

• IHSS, Shis

Source: Wiktionary


Hiss. v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hissed; p. pr. & vb. n. Hissing.] Etym: [AS. hysian; prob. of imitative originhissen, OD. hisschen.]

1. To make with the mouth a prolonged sound like that of the letter s, by driving the breath between the tongue and the teeth; to make with the mouth a sound like that made by a goose or a snake when angered; esp., to make such a sound as an expression of hatred, passion, or disapproval. The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee. Ezek. xxvii. 36.

2. To make a similar noise by any means; to pass with a sibilant sound; as, the arrow hissed as it flew. Shod with steel, We hissed along the polished ice. Wordsworth.

Hiss, v. t.

1. To condemn or express contempt for by hissing. If the tag-rag people did not clap him and hiss him, according as he pleased and displeased them. Shak. Malcolm. What is the newest grief Ros. That of an hour's age doth hiss the speaker. Shak.

2. To utter with a hissing sound. The long-necked geese of the world that are ever hissing dispraise. Tennyson.

Hiss, n.

1. A prolonged sound like that letter s, made by forcing out the breath between the tongue and teeth, esp. as a token of disapprobation or contempt. "Hiss" implies audible friction of breath consonants. H. Sweet. A dismal, universal hiss, the sound Of public scorn. Milton.

2. Any sound resembling that above described; as: (a) The noise made by a serpent. But hiss for hiss returned with forked tongue. Milton.

(b) The note of a goose when irritated. (c) The noise made by steam escaping through a narrow orifice, or by water falling on a hot stove.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

19 April 2024

SUSPECT

(verb) hold in suspicion; believe to be guilty; “The U.S. suspected Bin Laden as the mastermind behind the terrorist attacks”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

Espresso is both a coffee beverage and a brewing method that originated in Italy. When making an espresso, a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure forces through finely-ground coffee beans. It has more caffeine per unit volume than most coffee beverages. Its smaller serving size will take three shots to equal a mug of standard brewed coffee.

coffee icon