kiss

[ kis ]

/ kɪs /

Save This Word!

verb (used with object)

to touch or press with the lips slightly pursed, and then often to part them and to emit a smacking sound, in an expression of affection, love, greeting, reverence, etc.: He kissed his son on the cheek.

to join lips with in this way: She kissed him and left.

to touch gently or lightly: The breeze kissed her face.

to put, bring, take, etc., by, or as if by, kissing: She kissed the baby's tears away.

Billiards, Pool. (of a ball) to make slight contact with or brush (another ball).

verb (used without object)

to join lips in respect, affection, love, passion, etc.: They kissed passionately.

to express a thought, feeling, etc., by a contact of the lips: They kissed goodbye at the station.

to purse and then part the lips, emitting a smacking sound, as in kissing someone.

Billiards, Pool. (of a ball) to carom gently off or touch another ball.

noun

an act or instance of kissing.

a slight touch or contact.

Billiards, Pool. the slight touch of one ball by another.

a baked confection of egg whites and confectioners' sugar, served as a cookie.

a piece of toffeelike confectionery, sometimes containing nuts, coconut, or the like.

a small, sometimes conical, bite-size piece of chocolate, usually individually wrapped.

Verb Phrases

kiss off, Slang.

to reject, dismiss, or ignore: He kissed off their objections with a wave of his hand.
(used to express contemptuous rejection or dismissal).
to give up, renounce, or dispense with: Leaving Tulsa meant kissing off a promising job.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about kiss

blow / throw a kiss, to indicate an intended kiss from a distance, usually in bidding farewell, by kissing one's own fingertips and moving the hand toward the person greeted.

kiss ass, Slang: Vulgar. to be obsequious; fawn.

Origin of kiss

before 900; Middle English kissen to kiss, Old English cyssan (cognate with German küssen,Old Norse kyssa), derivative of Old English coss a kiss; cognate with Old Norse koss,German Küss

OTHER WORDS FROM kiss

outkiss, verb (used with object)un·kissed, adjective

Other definitions for kiss (2 of 2)

KISS

[ kis ]

/ kɪs /

noun

keep it simple, stupid: the principle that a product, service, system, etc., should be easy to learn and use.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use kiss in a sentence

From socially distanced first dates on a park bench or over FaceTime, to a suitor trying to steal a kiss only to be Heismaned with a loud warning of “6 feet!”
It’s Complicated: Love and Sex in 2021|Daniel Malloy|February 14, 2021|Ozy
Last week, after the Sabres’ Taylor Hall hit the post on a penalty shot in the third period of a tie game, Vanecek bent over, grabbed the iron and gave it a kiss.
Thrust into a starting role, Capitals rookie goaltender Vitek Vanecek is off to a stellar start|Samantha Pell|January 31, 2021|Washington Post
The novel has a thrilling same-sex kiss, post-traumatic stress, taxi cabs, airplanes and a sighting of the king and queen.
‘Mrs. Dalloway’ offers hope for our modern, COVID world|Kathi Wolfe|January 20, 2021|Washington Blade
The night ended with a kiss and yielded a second date, but not a third.
Date Lab update: Neither had planned to go on their setup. Today, they’re both still playing it by ear.|Maureen O'Connor|December 10, 2020|Washington Post

It’s even less likely that puppers can get infectious and start spreading the disease to humans through boops and kisses.
Dog owners may catch COVID-19 more often, but the reason will surprise you|Sara Kiley Watson|December 2, 2020|Popular-Science
“Simple joys of life—hugging, kissing, coloring—they have been taken away,” she says.
The Radio Battle to Educate Ebola’s Kids|Abby Haglage|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That statistic is based on a survey that includes attempted forced kissing as sexual assault.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Dec. 7|PunditFact.com|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Under that definition, forced kissing can certainly constitute as a form of sexual assault.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Dec. 7|PunditFact.com|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There are legitimate criticisms of the study, but not because it includes “attempted forced kissing,” as Lowry suggested.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Dec. 7|PunditFact.com|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After some teasing and talking, Mulvehill writes that she is “hesitant” but they start kissing.
School Shooters Love This Pickup Artist Website|Brandy Zadrozny|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But my faver says it's un-man-ly to be always kissing, and I did n't fink you'd do vat, Coppy.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
In the wagon a fellow is in the act of kissing a girl, while an old woman belabours him about the head.
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries|Charles G. Harper
The chambermaid is otherwise engaged, for an amorous spark is seen to be kissing her in the open doorway.
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries|Charles G. Harper
Do not make any display of affection for even your dearest friend; kissing in public, or embracing, are in bad taste.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
It is as much as I can do to prevent myself flinging my arms round the old shop-woman's neck and kissing her flabby cheeks.
Marguerite|Anatole France

British Dictionary definitions for kiss (1 of 2)

kiss

/ (kɪs) /

verb

(tr) to touch with the lips or press the lips against as an expression of love, greeting, respect, etc

(intr) to join lips with another person in an act of love or desire

to touch (each other) lightlytheir hands kissed

billiards (of balls) to touch (each other) lightly while moving

noun

the act of kissing; a caress with the lipsRelated adjective: oscular

a light touch

a small light sweet or cake, such as one made chiefly of egg white and sugarcoffee kisses

Derived forms of kiss

kissable, adjective

Word Origin for kiss

Old English cyssan, from coss; compare Old High German kussen, Old Norse kyssa

British Dictionary definitions for kiss (2 of 2)

KISS

/ text messaging /

abbreviation for

keep it simple, stupid

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

kiss

Idioms about kiss

Origin of kiss

OTHER WORDS FROM kiss

Other definitions for kiss (2 of 2)

Words related to kiss

How to use kiss in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for kiss (1 of 2)

Derived forms of kiss

Word Origin for kiss

British Dictionary definitions for kiss (2 of 2)