miss

¹

[ mis ]

verb (used with object)

1. to fail to hit or strike:

   to miss a target.

2. to fail to encounter, meet, catch, etc.:

   to miss a train.

3. to fail to take advantage of:

   to miss a chance.

4. to fail to be present at or for:

   to miss a day of school.

5. to notice the absence or loss of:

   When did you first miss your wallet?

6. to regret the absence or loss of:

   I miss you all dreadfully.

7. to escape or avoid:

   He just missed being caught.

8. to fail to perceive or understand:

   to miss the point of a remark.

verb (used without object)

1. to fail to hit something.
2. to fail of effect or success; be unsuccessful.

noun

1. a failure to hit something.
2. a failure of any kind.
3. an omission.
4. a misfire.

verb phrase

1. to fail to take advantage of, experience, etc.:

   You missed out on a great opportunity.

2. Chiefly British. to omit; leave out.

miss

²

[ mis ]

noun

, plural miss·es.

1. (initial capital letter) a title of respect for an unmarried woman, conventionally prefixed to her name or to the name of that which she represents:

   Miss Mary Jones; Miss Sweden.

2. (used by itself, as a term of address, especially to a young woman):

   Miss, please bring me some ketchup.

3. (initial capital letter) a title prefixed to a mock surname used to represent a particular attribute of the person, especially one excessively prominent:

   Miss Innocent; Miss Congeniality.

4. a young unmarried woman; girl:

   a radiant miss of 18 or so.

5. misses,
   1. a range of sizes, chiefly from 6 to 20, for garments that fit women of average height and build.
   2. the department or section of a store where these garments are sold.
   3. a garment in this size range.

miss.

³

abbreviation for

1. mission.
2. missionary.

Miss.

⁴

abbreviation for

1. Mississippi.

Miss.

¹

abbreviation for

1. Mississippi

Miss

²

/ mɪs /

noun

1. a title of an unmarried woman or girl, usually used before the surname or sometimes alone in direct address

miss

³

/ mɪs /

noun

1. informal.
   an unmarried woman or girl, esp a schoolgirl

miss

⁴

/ mɪs /

verb

1. to fail to reach, hit, meet, find, or attain (some specified or implied aim, goal, target, etc)
2. tr to fail to attend or be present for

   to miss a train

   to miss an appointment

3. tr to fail to see, hear, understand, or perceive

   to miss a point

4. tr to lose, overlook, or fail to take advantage of

   to miss an opportunity

5. tr to leave out; omit

   to miss an entry in a list

6. tr to discover or regret the loss or absence of

   he missed his watch

   she missed him

7. tr to escape or avoid (something, esp a danger), usually narrowly

   he missed death by inches

8. miss the boat or miss the bus
   to lose an opportunity

noun

1. a failure to reach, hit, meet, find, etc
2. give something a miss informal.
   to avoid (something)

   give the pudding a miss

   give the lecture a miss

Gender Note

See Ms.

Derived Forms

• ˈmissable, adjective

Other Words From

• missa·ble adjective
• un·missa·ble adjective
• un·missed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of miss¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English missen, mis(e), Old English missan; cognate with Old Frisian missa, Middle Low German, Middle Dutch, Old High German missen, Old Norse missa “to fail to hit or reach”

Origin of miss²

First recorded in 1600–10; short for mistress

Word History and Origins

Origin of miss¹

C17: shortened from mistress

Origin of miss²

C17: shortened form of mistress

Origin of miss³

Old English missan (meaning: to fail to hit); related to Old High German missan, Old Norse missa

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. miss fire. fire ( def 55 ).

More idioms and phrases containing miss

• heart misses a beat
• hit or miss
• near miss
• not miss a trick

Example Sentences

As the second anniversary of Miss Edwards's death approaches, Mr Edwards said this development made it even tougher to deal with.

From BBC

Miss Lawrence said he had been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, after nearly being stabbed to death in Southampton a year earlier.

From BBC

Phillips had left work that morning to check on her 18-year-old dog, Little Miss, and turn on her sprinklers when she first heard of the fire.

From Los Angeles Times

Miss Steer did not attend the hearing, but apologised in a written submission to a previous hearing.

From BBC

Ms Adetshina, a law student, went on to win Miss Universe Nigeria after she was invited to participate by the organisers.

From BBC