HISSING

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does hissing mean? 

• HISSING (noun)
  The noun HISSING has 1 sense:

1. a fricative sound (especially as an expression of disapproval)

  Familiarity information: HISSING used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HISSING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A fricative sound (especially as an expression of disapproval)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

fizzle; hiss; hissing; hushing; sibilation

Context example:

the performers could not be heard over the hissing of the audience

Hypernyms ("hissing" is a kind of...):

noise (sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound))

Derivation:

hiss (show displeasure, as after a performance or speech)

hiss (make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval)

hiss (express or utter with a hiss)

 Context examples 

“What was that?” he asked, as a hissing, sharp-drawn voice seemed to whisper in his ear.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

That hissing pant, as regular and full-volumed as the exhaust of an engine, spoke of a monstrous organism.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At any moment they were liable to be overwhelmed by the hissing combers.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

"As I expected," he murmured, with that hissing inspiration of his which meant so much.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Mr. Hyde shrank back with a hissing intake of the breath.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The long sweep of green water roaring forever down, and the thick flickering curtain of spray hissing forever upward, turn a man giddy with their constant whirl and clamour.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Under the bow the water was hissing as from a steam jet, the air was filled with driven spray, there was a rush and rumble and long-echoing roar, and the canoe floated on the placid water of the lagoon.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Was ever such a hissing and clacking?

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The air was thick with flying wreckage, detached ropes and stays were hissing and coiling like snakes, and down through it all crashed the gaff of the foresail.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

The deep shout of Du Guesclin, the hard, hissing breath of the pressing multitude, the clatter of steel, the thud of falling bodies, and the screams of the stricken, made up such a medley as came often in after years to break upon Alleyne's sleep.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)