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⇱ hiss - WordReference.com Dictionary of English


hiss

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈhɪs/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/hɪs/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(his)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
hiss /hɪs/USA pronunciation   v. 
  1. to make or give off a sharp sound like that of the letter s:[no object]The snake hissed.
  2. to express disapproval or contempt (for) by making this sound: [no object]As the play got worse, the audience began to hiss and boo.[+ at + object]The audience hissed at the villain.[+ object]The audience hissed the actor off the stage.

n. [countable]
  1. a hissing sound.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
hiss  (his),USA pronunciation v.i. 
  1. to make or emit a sharp sound like that of the letter s prolonged, as a snake does, or as steam does when forced under pressure through a small opening.
  2. to express disapproval or contempt by making this sound:The audience hissed when the actor forgot his lines.

v.t. 
  1. to express disapproval of by hissing:The audience hissed the controversial play.
  2. to silence or drive away by hissing (usually fol. by away, down, etc.):They hissed down the author when he tried to speak.
  3. to utter with a hiss.

n. 
  1. a hissing sound, esp. one made in disapproval.
  • 1350–1400; Middle English hissen; probably imitative; compare Old English hyscan to jeer at, rail (derivative of husc jeering; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German hosc)
hisser, n. 
hissing•ly, adv. 
    2. 4. boo, razz, heckle.

Hiss  (his),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Biographical Alger, 1904–96, U.S. public official, accused of espionage 1948 and imprisoned for perjury 1950–54.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
hiss /hɪs/ n
  1. a voiceless fricative sound like that of a prolonged s
  2. such a sound uttered as an exclamation of derision, contempt, etc, esp by an audience or crowd
vb
  1. (intransitive) to produce or utter a hiss
  2. (transitive) to express with a hiss, usually to indicate derision or anger
  3. (transitive) to show derision or anger towards (a speaker, performer, etc) by hissing
Etymology: 14th Century: of imitative origin
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Hiss /hɪs/ n
  1. Alger. 1904–96, US government official: imprisoned (1950–54) for perjury in connection with alleged espionage activities
'hiss' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: heard the hiss of [a cat, the teapot], the [cat's, snake's] hiss, a [sharp, loud] hiss, more...

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