hiccough

hic·cup

H h

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [hik-uhp, -uh p]
- /ˈhɪk ʌp, -əp/
- /ˈhɪk.ʌp/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [hik-uhp, -uh p]
- /ˈhɪk ʌp, -əp/

Definitions of hiccough word

noun hiccough a quick, involuntary inhalation that follows a spasm of the diaphragm and is suddenly checked by closure of the glottis, producing a short, relatively sharp sound. 1
noun hiccough Usually, hiccups. the condition of having such spasms: She got the hiccups just as she began to speak. 1
noun hiccough Informal. a minor difficulty, interruption, setback, etc.: a hiccup in the stock market. 1
verb without object hiccough to make the sound of a hiccup: The motor hiccuped as it started. 1
verb without object hiccough to have the hiccups. 1
verb without object hiccough Informal. to experience a temporary decline, setback, interruption, etc.: There was general alarm when the economy hiccuped. 1

See all 8 definitions of hiccough

Information block about the term

Origin of hiccough

First appearance:

before 1570

One of the 33% oldest English words

1570-80; alteration of hocket, hickock, equivalent to hic + -ock; akin to Low German hick hiccup; see hocket

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Hiccough

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Hiccough

hiccough popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 77% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

hiccough usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for hiccough

noun hiccough

singultus — a hiccup.

Just one Synonym for hiccough