hissing

[ his-ing ]

noun

1. the act of emitting a hiss.
2. the sound of a hiss.
3. Archaic. an occasion or object of scorn.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hissing¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; hiss, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Forty-five years after “Alien” launched horror into space, little hasn’t been analyzed about its hissing xenomorphs, face-huggers or the lingering untrustworthiness of “synthetic persons.”

From Salon

An audience member who was at the performance of Antony and Cleopatra told the BBC he heard "hissing from above", before seeing "an object fall through the roof - and into the crowd".

From BBC

Amid the din of traffic, hissing buses and loud stereos, the playground sat empty, and men lay on the grassy strips, napping under the sun.

From Los Angeles Times

A strange hissing noise echoes from the canyon.

From Literature

Just as I was about to ask what Survival Night meant exactly, the sound of a strange hissing animal filled the air.

From Literature