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Glite Dictionary
hissing

hissing

44 2.6
A long sharp s sound made by animals, objects, or people to show disapproval
  • noun
  • /ˈhɪsɪŋ/
translation icon : siseo
  • As the steam escaped, it made a persistent hissing sound that filled the room.

Can you hear, without seeing what's far away, the hissing of space between atoms?

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Examples

  • All was silent except for the hissing of the stove.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • I almost expected hissing noises when this rain made contact with the remains.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Now I'm hearing hissing sound like a gas trying to escape.

  • The air filled with a hissing roar that drowned out even the screams of the birds.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • The sound of hissing filled my ears; moisture beaded my face and dampened my hair.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • The creatures snarled, a low reptilian hissing sound, and leapt back among the ferns.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The hellish mailroom is crisscrossed by pipes that emit hissing jets of steam.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Bawling cattle milling in the pens south of Big Whiskey, and the train hissing and steaming at a standstill.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Jansky's task was to investigate the cacophony of hissing, crackling noises that interfered with transatlantic radio telephone communications.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The audience responded with a loud hissing at the controversial speaker.

Synonyms

hiss
vshissing
47 1.1

A sharp, high sound like a snake or from people showing disapproval

is a prolonged sharp s sound often used to show disapproval
sibilation
vshissing
9.9

A hissing sound someone makes when they speak

is the sustained sound itself rather than the speaking action
sibilance
vshissing
  • Specialized
7.6

A sharp hissing sound in speech or recordings from s and sh sounds

is a prolonged sharp s sound rather than broader audio noise
sibilant
vshissing
  • Specialized
8.3

A speech sound that makes a hissing noise like s

is the continuous audible sound itself, not a consonant label

Antonyms

applause
647 1.0

Clapping hands to show you like or approve something

cheer
205 1.0

A loud shout people make to show approval or support

Compounds

hissing hot
6.5

Very hot and making a sharp steam sound, like food from the oven or a pan

How Loud

screech
39 2.9
hissing
44 2.6
rustle
12 4.4
whisper
110 1.0

Surface Forms

hissing singular
hissings plural

Morphology

hissing = hiss (transparent) = hiss + ing

Direct deverbal noun from 'hiss' with the productive English suffix '-ing', so the meaning is obvious from the base.

Etymology

The word hissing comes from the simple sound word hiss, which copies the sharp 's' noise a snake or a tired machine makes. So, hissing means a long 's' sound you hear as a sign of disapproval or as a natural, sharp noise.