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kiss (kĭs)
Share:
v. kissed, kiss·ing, kiss·es
v.tr.
1. To touch or caress with the lips as an expression of affection, greeting, respect, or amorousness.
2. To touch lightly or gently: flowers that were kissed by dew.
3. To strike lightly; brush against: barely kissed the other car with the bumper.
v.intr.
1. To engage in mutual touching or caressing with the lips.
2. To come into light contact.
n.
1. A caress or touch with the lips.
2. A slight or gentle touch.
3. A small piece of candy, especially of chocolate.
4. A drop cookie made of egg whites and sugar.
Phrasal Verbs:
kiss off Slang
1. To dismiss or reject.
2. To be forced to give up or regard as lost: He can kiss off that promotion.
3. To leave or disappear from notice: got bad press by telling the reporters to kiss off.
kiss up Slang
To behave obsequiously; fawn.
Idioms:
kiss ass Vulgar Slang
To act submissively or obsequiously in order to gain favor.
kiss goodbye
Informal To be forced to regard as lost, ruined, or hopeless: She can kiss her vacation plans goodbye.

[Middle English kissen, from Old English cyssan.]

kissa·ble adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.