English Explanatory Dictionary

hiss

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A sibilant sound, such as that made by a snake or escaping steam; an unvoiced fricative.
  2. An expression of disapproval made using such a sound.
verb
  1. To make a hiss, a sibilant sound of air escaping.
  2. To call someone by hissing.
  3. To condemn or express contempt (for someone or something) by hissing.
  4. To utter (something) with a hissing sound.
  5. To move with a hissing sound.
  6. To emit or eject (something) with a hissing sound.
  7. To whisper, especially angrily or urgently.

Pronunciation

/hɪs/ en-us-hiss.ogg

Word forms

hiss hisses hissing hissed

Etymology

From Middle English hissen, probably of onomatopoeic origin (compare Arabic هَسْهَسَ (hashasa)). Compare Middle Dutch hissen, hisschen (“to chase away, shoo”), Middle Low German hissen (“to chase, hound, incite”).

Synonyms

fizzle fizz

Related words

hizz

Derived words

hissy plasmaspheric hiss boo hiss hissable hiss-and-tell hisser Hissian hissing cockroach hissing hot hissingly outhiss unhissed
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