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View synonyms for hiss

hiss

1

[ his ]

verb (used without object)

  1. 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.
  2. to express disapproval or contempt by making this sound:

    The audience hissed when the actor forgot his lines.

    Synonyms: heckle, razz, boo



verb (used with object)

  1. to express disapproval of by hissing:

    The audience hissed the controversial play.

  2. to silence or drive away by hissing (usually followed by away, down, etc.):

    They hissed down the author when he tried to speak.

    Synonyms: heckle, razz, boo

  3. to utter with a hiss.

noun

  1. a hissing sound, especially one made in disapproval.

Hiss

2

[ his ]

noun

  1. Alger, 1904–96, U.S. public official, accused of espionage 1948 and imprisoned for perjury 1950–54.

hiss

1

/ hɪs /

noun

  1. a voiceless fricative sound like that of a prolonged s
  2. such a sound uttered as an exclamation of derision, contempt, etc, esp by an audience or crowd
  3. electronics receiver noise with a continuous spectrum, caused by thermal agitation, shot noise, etc
“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


interjection

  1. an exclamation of derision or disapproval
“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

verb

  1. intr to produce or utter a hiss
  2. tr to express with a hiss, usually to indicate derision or anger
  3. tr to show derision or anger towards (a speaker, performer, etc) by hissing
“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

Hiss

2

/ hɪs /

noun

  1. HissAlger19041996MUSPOLITICS: politician 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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈhisser, noun
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Other Words From

  • hisser noun
  • hissing·ly adverb
  • outhiss verb (used with object)
  • un·hissed adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of hiss1

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 )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of hiss1

C14: of imitative origin
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Example Sentences

The cascading raindrops, the hiss of cars on glistening streets, the splashes of pedestrians striding through puddles, all showed up.

Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, engineers at Bell Labs, were stymied by a persistent hiss in the house-sized, horn-like antenna they were repurposing for radio astronomy.

He stumbled upon a hiss coming from somewhere in the constellation Sagittarius, in the direction of the center of the galaxy.

The highs sound a little crunchy and there’s a very slight hiss when no sound is happening.

The contention was that a sellout was taking place led by, of all people, Richard Nixon, who originally exposed Alger Hiss.

Others hiss at reporters they disagree with, creating a toxic and tense environment.

When the hiss of reptiles turns to words, you hear something that you have never heard and will never forget.

Back in 2005, for instance, he argued that the U.S. housing bubble was starting to hiss badly.

Smith's method usually gives good results, as does also the more simple method of Hiss (p. 263).

When it is inconvenient to stain before the smears have dried, capsules can be shown by the method of Hiss.

With an explosive hiss, gray jets of live steam erupted from pipes around the edge of the room.

And Edom shall be desolate: every one that shall pass by it, shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all its plagues.

As the leader finished her remarks Mrs. Haight brought her teeth together with a snap and shot through them a little hiss.

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hispidulousHiss, Alger