hissing

1. 1
   noununcountable

   The continuous 's'-like sound made by escaping air or steam, a snake, or a disapproving crowd.

   A steady hissing came from the cracked steam pipe in the basement.

   The hissing from the back rows grew louder as the speaker stumbled.

   Similarfizzing, booing, sibilance

   Note

   As a noun it can be counted, and the plural hissings suits repeated outbursts rather than one steady sound. John Lothrop Motley, in 1875, sets "the hissings and screamings of the vulgar" against a statesman who heeds them less than geese on a common. That is the sound of public contempt, with the animal comparison never far behind. Paired with another plural noise, the word tends to pick up that note of jeering.

2. 2
   adjective

   Producing a hiss, or accompanied by one: a sharp, sustained 's'-like sound.

   The hissing radiator kept everyone awake through the night.

   She edged carefully past the hissing goose blocking the path.

   Similarsibilant, fizzing, sizzling

3. 3
   verb

   Present participle of hiss.

   The snakes were hissing in the tall, dry grass.

   The crowd kept hissing at the referee after the missed call.

   Note

   The -ing form carries every use of the verb, transitive as well as intransitive. A kettle can be hissing on the stove, but a crowd can also be hissing a speaker in contempt, and someone can be hissing a reply through clenched teeth. As a gerund it names the act itself. Placed before a noun, it shades into the descriptive adjective, which can be graded with more and most.

   "Get down," he was hissing, pulling her behind the wall.

   The audience kept hissing the villain every time he walked on stage.

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