hiccup

or hic-cough

[ hik-uhp, -uhp ]

noun

1. a quick, involuntary inhalation that follows a spasm of the diaphragm and is suddenly checked by closure of the glottis, producing a short, relatively sharp sound.
2. Usually hiccups. the condition of having such spasms:

   She got the hiccups just as she began to speak.

3. Informal. a minor difficulty, interruption, setback, etc.:

   a hiccup in the stock market.

verb (used without object)

, hic·cuped or hic·cupped, hic·cup·ing or hic·cup·ping.

1. to make the sound of a hiccup:

   The motor hiccuped as it started.

2. to have the hiccups.
3. Informal. to experience a temporary decline, setback, interruption, etc.:

   There was general alarm when the economy hiccuped.

hiccup

/ ˈhɪkʌp /

noun

1. a spasm of the diaphragm producing a sudden breathing in followed by a closing of the glottis, resulting in a sharp sound Technical namesingultus
2. the state or condition of having such spasms
3. informal.
   a minor difficulty or problem

verb

1. intr to make a hiccup or hiccups
2. tr to utter with a hiccup or hiccups

Word History and Origins

Origin of hiccup¹

1570–80; alteration of hocket, hickock, equivalent to hic + -ock; akin to Low German hick hiccup; hocket

Word History and Origins

Origin of hiccup¹

C16: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Still, the most recent hiccups in Facebook’s political ad system shows that some — from academics to presidential campaigns — remain concerned about the company’s transparency efforts.

From Vox

Most of those hiccups happen when you’re trying to multitask.

From Popular-Science

Every hiccup and anomaly in how elections are run seems to give partisans at either end of the political spectrum a reason to accuse opponents of misdeeds.

From MIT Technology Review

The virtual hearing about the tech industry ended up being marred by tech hiccups.

From Fortune

Through it all, we experienced many successes and , of course, several hiccups along the way.

From MIT Technology Review

At the time, I called it a hiccup rather than a heart attack.

From The Daily Beast

So, yeah, it was a very big hiccup—one sufficiently large to jolt the heart from its regular beat.

From The Daily Beast

But the challenge of acting in a major franchise was just a hiccup when compared to the challenge of acting in front of the press.

From The Daily Beast

Not that Kiev and U.S. counter-propaganda goes through without a hiccup.

From The Daily Beast

But I am guessing this is going to be a hiccup in his career.

From The Daily Beast

Her face was bowed forward and covered with her hands, and she was shaken at intervals by the convulsive hiccup of grief.

From Project Gutenberg

But he had no relief from laughter either, for it was the same he had just heard from the Sydney Duck, a sort of hiccup.

From Project Gutenberg

Lady Tabby Catson died soon after, leaving a handsome legacy to Mr. Hiccup, the surgeon.

From Project Gutenberg

Hullo, you young vaggybones,” he screeched out with a hiccup; “where be ye off ter now, hey?

From Project Gutenberg

She had meant to be such a good queen, she thought with a little choking hiccup.

From Project Gutenberg