Link Centre Dictionary

hiss

UK/hɪs/ US/ˈhɪs/ uncommon
verb (4) noun (2)

verb

1.
2.

move with a whooshing sound

Synonyms
3.

express or utter with a hiss

Synonyms
4.

show displeasure, as after a performance or speech

Synonyms
Antonyms

noun

1.

a fricative sound (especially as an expression of disapproval)

  • “the performers could not be heard over the hissing of the audience”
Synonyms
2.

Origin

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”).

Phrases

  • boo hiss
  • hissing cockroach
  • hissing hot
  • plasmaspheric hiss

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.