hiccups

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hic·cup

also hic·cough (hĭk′əp)

a. A spasm of the diaphragm resulting in a rapid, involuntary inhalation that is stopped by the sudden closure of the glottis and accompanied by a sharp, distinctive sound.

b. hiccups also hiccoughs An attack of these spasms. Often used with the.

2. The sound made by such a spasm or a sound resembling it: "the urgent hiccup of a police siren" (John Updike).

3. A usually minor setback, impediment, or difficulty; a hitch: "As long as the Fed remains fearful to act lest it be blamed for any economic hiccup, market uncertainty will continue" (Kevin Brady).

intr.v. hic·cupped, hic·cup·ping, hic·cups also hic·coughed or hic·cough·ing or hic·coughs

1. To make a hiccup or a sound like a hiccup.

2. To have an attack of hiccups.

[Imitative.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

فُوَاق

škytavka

hikke

SchluckaufSingultus

hikka

štucanje

しゃっくり

딸꾹질

hicka

สะอึก

hıçkırık

tiếng nấc

打呃

hiccups

→ فُوَاق škytavka hikke Schluckauf λόξυγγας hipo hikka hoquet štucanje singhiozzo しゃっくり 딸꾹질 hik hikke czkawka soluço, soluços икота hicka สะอึก hıçkırık tiếng nấc 打呃

Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

hiccough

, hiccups

n. hipo, contracción involuntaria del diafragma y la glotis.

References in classic literature ?

"Which is - hiccup! - undoubtedly the case," said the metaphysician, while he poured out for himself another bumper of Mousseux, and offered his snuff-box to the fingers of his visiter.

"What do you think of - what do you think of - hiccup! - Epicurus?"

"That's a lie!" repeated the restaurateur, dogmatically; "that's a - hiccup! - a lie!"

"The - hiccup! - soul," replied the metaphysician, referring to his MS., "is undoubtedly-"

"The - hiccup - wretch!" ejaculated Bon-Bon, "the - hic-cup!

"Only think - hiccup! - of a fricasseed shadow!" exclaimed our hero, whose faculties were becoming much illuminated by the profundity of his Majesty's discourse.

"My soul is - hiccup! - peculiarly qualified for - hiccup!

I'll let you have it- hiccup! - a bargain." Here the philosopher slapped his Majesty upon the back.

View in context

'And such,' said he, with a hiccup, 'such is Paris.'

View in context

After some minutes, he returned, with his legs thoroughly stretched, if the hue of his nose and a short hiccup afforded any criterion; and at the same time there came out of the yard a rusty pony-chaise, and a cart, driven by two labouring men.

View in context

'Have you,' rejoined Mr Tappertit, catching him by the wrist, and giving him a look which would have been expressive of the most deadly malevolence, but for an accidental hiccup that rather interfered with it; 'have you a--a rival?'

View in context

Behind this domestic, Mr and Mrs Boffin took their seats in the back compartment of the vehicle: which was sufficiently commodious, but had an undignified and alarming tendency, in getting over a rough crossing, to hiccup itself away from the front compartment.