Kiss
Pronunciation
- enPR: kÄs, IPA: /kɪs/
- Rhymes: -ɪs
Origin
From Middle English kissen, kussen, from Old English cyssan ("to kiss"), from Proto-Germanic *kussijanÄ…, cognates include Danish kysse, Dutch kussen, German küssen, Icelandic kyssa and Swedish kyssa. Possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ku, *kus (probably imitative), with cognates including Ancient Greek κÏσσω, poetic form of κÏσω (kuso, "to kiss"), and Hittite kuwassanzi ("they kiss").
Full definition of kiss
Verb
- (transitive) To touch with the lips or press the lips against, usually to express love or affection or passion, or as part of a greeting.
- William Shakespeare (1564-1616)He...kissed her lips with such a clamorous smack,
That at the parting all the church echoed. - 1879, Richard Jefferies, The Amateur Poacher Chapter 1, But then I had the massive flintlock by me for protection. ¶...The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window …, and a 'bead' could be drawn upon Molly, the dairymaid, kissing the fogger behind the hedge, little dreaming that the deadly tube was levelled at them.
- (transitive) To touch lightly or slightly; to come into contact.His ball kissed the black into the corner pocket.The nearside of the car just kissed a parked truck as he took the corner at high speed.
- William Shakespeare (1564-1616)Like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume. - Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892)Rose, rose and clematis,
Trail and twine and clasp and kiss. - (intransitive) Of two or more people, to touch each other's lips together, usually to express love or affection or passion.
- (transitive) To mark a cross (X) after one's name on a card, etc.
Synonyms
- to kiss each other (3)
- to kiss one another (3)
Noun
kiss
(plural kisses)- A touch with the lips, usually to express love or affection, or as a greeting.
- A type of filled chocolate candy, shaped as if someone had kissed the top. See Hershey's Kisses.