Hissing

Hiss  (hs), Alger 1904-1996.

American public official. Accused of espionage at the height of the Communist scare, he was convicted of perjury (1950) in a controversial case.

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hiss  (hs)

n.

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.

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

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hisser n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

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"