noun
hiccup
HIH-kuhp
Hiccup (noun) means an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm that produces a short, sharp sound. Example: “He got the hiccups after drinking his soda too fast.”
noun
1
An involuntary spasm of the diaphragm that produces a short, sharp sound.
"He got the hiccups after drinking his soda too fast."
2
A small, temporary problem or setback.
"There was a minor hiccup in the schedule, but the event still went smoothly."
"The launch went well apart from a small technical hiccup."
verb
1
To make the sound of a hiccup.
"She hiccupped through the entire meeting, much to her embarrassment."
How to use hiccup
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the sudden throat-and-chest spasm everyone gets sometimes, or a small snag in an otherwise smooth process.
Common pairings
get the hiccups
a technical hiccup
a minor hiccup
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Word forms
- Plural
- hiccups
- Third person singular
- hiccups
- Past tense
- hiccuped, hiccupped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He got the _____ after drinking his soda too fast.
Etymology
From an earlier form "hicket," built from the imitative sound "hic" plus a diminutive ending — the word literally imitates the sound it describes.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “hiccup” mean?
The word “hiccup” means an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm that produces a short, sharp sound. In plain terms, either the sudden throat-and-chest spasm everyone gets sometimes, or a small snag in an otherwise smooth process.
How do you pronounce “hiccup”?
“Hiccup” is pronounced HIH-kuhp (/ˈhɪkʌp/ in IPA).
How do you use “hiccup” in a sentence?
Here is “hiccup” used in a sentence: “He got the hiccups after drinking his soda too fast.”
What part of speech is “hiccup”?
Depending on how it is used, “hiccup” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “hiccup” have?
“Hiccup” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm that produces a short, sharp sound.
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