hiccup

Pluralhiccups

Formshiccups, hiccuping, hiccuped

1. 1
   nouncountable

   An attack of hiccups that keeps coming back for a while.

   Like a cough that keeps coming back again and again.

   He had a hiccup that would not go away all evening.

   Her hiccups lasted so long that she went to see a doctor.

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable

   A sudden 'hic' sound made when the muscle below your lungs jumps.

   Like a quick jump in your chest that you cannot control.

   A hiccup interrupted him just as he started to speak.

   The spicy food gave her one hiccup after another.

   Note
3. 3
   verbintransitive

   To make a sudden 'hic' sound that you cannot control.

   Like a sneeze that comes without any warning.

   The baby started to hiccup after drinking its milk too quickly.

   She hiccuped all through dinner and could not stop.

   Note
4. 4
   nouncolloquialcountable

   A small problem that slows things down for a short time.

   Like a small bump in the road that slows you down but does not stop you.

   We hit a small hiccup with the schedule but fixed it quickly.

   The concert went well, apart from one hiccup with the sound system.

   Similarsetback, snag, glitch, hitch

5. 5
   nouncountable

   A sudden small jump or change in something.

   Like a quick flicker of a light before it shines steady again.

   There was a quick hiccup in the music before it played smoothly.

   The screen showed a brief hiccup and then went back to normal.

   Similarblip, glitch, fluctuation, wobble, spasm

6. 6
   verbintransitive

   To make a short, broken sound that stops and starts like a hiccup.

   Like a car that coughs and jumps before it starts moving.

   Sometimes the engines hiccup before they finally catch.

   The old motor hiccuped twice and then died.

   Similarsputter, cough, stutter, splutter, falter

7. 7
   verbtransitive

   To say words while making hiccup sounds at the same time.

   Like trying to talk while you keep coughing.

   I can only hiccup my thanks after laughing so hard.

   He hiccuped a quick goodbye and left the table.

   Note

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