hissing

[ his-ing ]

/ ˈhɪs ɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hissing ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of emitting a hiss.

the sound of a hiss.

Archaic. an occasion or object of scorn.

Nearby words

hispidulous, hiss, hiss, alger, hissarlik, hisself, hissing, hissy, hissy fit, hist, hist-, hist.

Origin of hissing

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at hiss, -ing¹

Definition for hissing (2 of 2)

hiss

[ his ]

/ hɪs /

verb (used without object)

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.

to express disapproval or contempt by making this sound: The audience hissed when the actor forgot his lines.

verb (used with object)

to express disapproval of by hissing: The audience hissed the controversial play.

to silence or drive away by hissing (usually followed by away, down, etc.): They hissed down the author when he tried to speak.

to utter with a hiss.

noun

a hissing sound, especially one made in disapproval.

Origin of hiss

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)

SYNONYMS FOR hiss

2, 4 boo, razz, heckle.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hiss ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

hiss·er, nounhiss·ing·ly, adverbout·hiss, verb (used with object)un·hissed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hissing

CLAIRE: (hissing) Have you ever considered, even for a second, that what I do matters too?
Frank Underwood Will Not Tolerate Insubordination in This Olive Garden|Kelly Williams Brown|February 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They make all kinds of calls and noises as we pass: slurps, hissing, barking, and even machine-gun sounds.
Egypt’s Sexual Harassment Epidemic|Sophia Jones, Erin Banco|June 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
With the pincers he picked up a bit of hot iron and dropped it hissing into the pail, which he pushed beneath the tent.
The Best Short Stories of 1920|Various
Seizing me in her arms she was about to do so, when the crackling and hissing flames burst forth around us.
Won from the Waves|W.H.G. Kingston

Then, with a hissing plunge, it disappeared beneath the turbid flood of the great river.
Raftmates|Kirk Munroe
It grew, and its hissing, crackling length reached upward to a fine-drawn point that touched the opening above.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science January 1931|Various
As soon as the hissing stops, remove the work from the water or brine and plunge in oil for complete cooling.
Oxy-Acetylene Welding and Cutting|Harold P. Manly

British Dictionary definitions for hissing (1 of 2)

hiss

/ (hɪs) /

noun

a voiceless fricative sound like that of a prolonged s

such a sound uttered as an exclamation of derision, contempt, etc, esp by an audience or crowd

electronics receiver noise with a continuous spectrum, caused by thermal agitation, shot noise, etc

interjection

an exclamation of derision or disapproval

verb

(intr) to produce or utter a hiss

(tr) to express with a hiss, usually to indicate derision or anger

(tr) to show derision or anger towards (a speaker, performer, etc) by hissing

Derived Forms

hisser, noun

Word Origin for hiss

C14: of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for hissing (2 of 2)

Hiss

/ (hɪs) /

noun

Alger. 1904–96, US government official: imprisoned (1950–54) for perjury in connection with alleged espionage activities

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012