miss

¹

[ mis ]

verb (used with object)

1. to fail to hit or strike:

   to miss a target.

2. to fail to encounter, meet, catch, etc.:

   to miss a train.

3. to fail to take advantage of:

   to miss a chance.

4. to fail to be present at or for:

   to miss a day of school.

5. to notice the absence or loss of:

   When did you first miss your wallet?

6. to regret the absence or loss of:

   I miss you all dreadfully.

7. to escape or avoid:

   He just missed being caught.

8. to fail to perceive or understand:

   to miss the point of a remark.

verb (used without object)

1. to fail to hit something.
2. to fail of effect or success; be unsuccessful.

noun

1. a failure to hit something.
2. a failure of any kind.
3. an omission.
4. a misfire.

verb phrase

1. Chiefly British. to omit; leave out.
2. to fail to take advantage of, experience, etc.:

   You missed out on a great opportunity.

miss

²

[ mis ]

noun

, plural miss·es.

1. (initial capital letter) a title of respect for an unmarried woman, conventionally prefixed to her name or to the name of that which she represents:

   Miss Mary Jones; Miss Sweden.

2. (used by itself, as a term of address, especially to a young woman):

   Miss, please bring me some ketchup.

3. (initial capital letter) a title prefixed to a mock surname used to represent a particular attribute of the person, especially one excessively prominent:

   Miss Innocent; Miss Congeniality.

4. a young unmarried woman; girl:

   a radiant miss of 18 or so.

5. misses,
   1. a range of sizes, chiefly from 6 to 20, for garments that fit women of average height and build.
   2. the department or section of a store where these garments are sold.
   3. a garment in this size range.

miss.

³

abbreviation for

1. mission.
2. missionary.

Miss.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. Mississippi.

miss

¹

/ mɪs /

verb

1. to fail to reach, hit, meet, find, or attain (some specified or implied aim, goal, target, etc)
2. tr to fail to attend or be present for

   to miss a train

   to miss an appointment

3. tr to fail to see, hear, understand, or perceive

   to miss a point

4. tr to lose, overlook, or fail to take advantage of

   to miss an opportunity

5. tr to leave out; omit

   to miss an entry in a list

6. tr to discover or regret the loss or absence of

   he missed his watch

   she missed him

7. tr to escape or avoid (something, esp a danger), usually narrowly

   he missed death by inches

8. miss the boat
   miss the boatmiss the bus to lose an opportunity

noun

1. a failure to reach, hit, meet, find, etc
2. give something a miss informal.
   give something a miss to avoid (something)

   give the lecture a miss

   give the pudding a miss

miss

²

/ mɪs /

noun

1. informal.
   an unmarried woman or girl, esp a schoolgirl

Miss

³

/ mɪs /

noun

1. a title of an unmarried woman or girl, usually used before the surname or sometimes alone in direct address

Miss.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. Mississippi

Gender Note

See Ms.

Derived Forms

• ˈmissable, adjective

Other Words From

• missa·ble adjective
• un·missa·ble adjective
• un·missed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of miss¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English missen, mis(e), Old English missan; cognate with Old Frisian missa, Middle Low German, Middle Dutch, Old High German missen, Old Norse missa “to fail to hit or reach”

Origin of miss²

First recorded in 1600–10; short for mistress

Word History and Origins

Origin of miss¹

Old English missan (meaning: to fail to hit); related to Old High German missan, Old Norse missa

Origin of miss²

C17: shortened form of mistress

Origin of miss³

C17: shortened from mistress

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. miss fire. fire ( def 55 ).

More idioms and phrases containing miss

• heart misses a beat
• hit or miss
• near miss
• not miss a trick

Example Sentences

Myerson herself appears to have bought into that stigma, offering mixed to negative views on the Miss America pageant.

From The Daily Beast

So, why no Jewess in the mix of more recent and diverse Miss Americas?

From The Daily Beast

Her Miss America win transcended mere superficial beauty standards.

From The Daily Beast

In 1995, Myerson made a point not to attend the 75th anniversary of the Miss America pageant.

From The Daily Beast

No Jewish woman has been crowned Miss America since Bess Myerson won in 1945.

From The Daily Beast

But Lucy had noted, out of the corner of her watchful eye, the arrival of Miss Grains, indignant and perspiring.

From Project Gutenberg

But with all her advantages Miss Solomonson failed with the old lord, and she abuses him to this day.

From Project Gutenberg

The strains of the syren at last woke her uncle, and brought back Miss Hood, who suggested that it was late.

From Project Gutenberg

He, with others, thinking the miss-sahib had gone to church, was smoking the hookah of gossip in a neighboring compound.

From Project Gutenberg

Miss Christabel blushed furiously and emitted a sound half between a laugh and a scream.

From Project Gutenberg