hissing

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hiss

(hĭs)

1. A sharp sibilant sound similar to a sustained s.

2. An expression of disapproval, contempt, or dissatisfaction conveyed by use of this sound.

v. hissed, hiss·ing, hiss·es

v.intr.

To make a hiss: The audience booed and hissed. The teakettle hissed on the stove.

v.tr.

1. To utter with a hiss.

2. To express (a negative view or reaction) by uttering a hiss: The audience hissed its displeasure.

[Middle English hissen, to hiss, of imitative origin.]

hiss′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

hissing

(ˈhɪsɪŋ)

another word for hiss¹, hiss²

adj

producing, uttering or accompanied by a hiss

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

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Noun

hissing - a fricative sound (especially as an expression of disapproval); "the performers could not be heard over the hissing of the audience"

fizzle, hiss, hushing, sibilation

noise - sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound); "he enjoyed the street noises"; "they heard indistinct noises of people talking"; "during the firework display that ended the gala the noise reached 98 decibels"

Translations

sibilo

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References in classic literature ?

"You fools!" he cried, "see what you have been hissing," and held up a little pig whose ear he had been pinching to make him utter the squeals.

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At the same time a faint hissing sound became audible.

Then slowly the hissing passed into a humming, into a long, loud, droning noise.

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At that moment (it was seventeen minutes past one in the morning) Lieutenant Bronsfield was preparing to leave the watch and return to his cabin, when his attention was attracted by a distant hissing noise.

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And then, as the by-standers afterwards affirmed, a hissing sound was heard, apparently in Roderick Elliston's breast.

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But, in reality, we are not so fond of paying compliments to these people, whom we use as children frequently do the instruments of their amusement; and have much more pleasure in hissing and buffeting them, than in admiring their excellence.

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Worms of the riper grave unhid By any kindly coffin lid, Obscene and shameless to the light, Seethe in insatiate appetite, Through putrid offal; while above The hissing blow-fly seeks his love, Whose offspring, supping where they supt, Consume corruption twice corrupt.

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Before we knew very well what was coming all the sails we had set had burst; the furled ones were blowing loose, ropes flying, sea hissing - it hissed tremendously - wind howling, and the ship lying on her side, so that half of the crew were swimming and the other half clawing desperately at whatever came to hand, according to the side of the deck each man had been caught on by the catastrophe, either to leeward or to windward.

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With a solemn triumphal march there mingled a song, the drip from the trees, and the hissing of the saber, "Ozheg-zheg-zheg..." and again the horses jostled one another and neighed, not disturbing the choir but joining in it.

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The last words she whispered in a hissing tone, close to his ear.

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When he did not discover me in sight within the valley he dashed, hissing into the rank vegetation of the swamp and that was the last I saw of him.

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There was a great indenture in the rocks up which the sea came hissing; to the left, round the corner, the lighthouse.