hissing

hissing
    n 1: a fricative sound (especially as an expression of
         disapproval); "the performers could not be heard over the
         hissing of the audience" [syn: {hiss}, {hissing},
         {hushing}, {fizzle}, {sibilation}]
    

Hiss \Hiss\ (h[i^]s). v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Hissed} (h[i^]st); p.
   pr. & vb. n. {Hissing}.] [AS. hysian; prob. of imitative
   origin; cf. LG. hissen, OD. hisschen.]
   1. To make with the mouth a prolonged sound like that of the
      letter s, by driving the breath between the tongue and the
      teeth; to make with the mouth a sound like that made by a
      goose or a snake when angered; esp., to make such a sound
      as an expression of hatred, passion, or disapproval.
      [1913 Webster]

            The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee.
                                                  --Ezek. xxvii.
                                                  36.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To make a similar noise by any means; to pass with a
      sibilant sound; as, the arrow hissed as it flew.
      [1913 Webster]

            Shod with steel,
            We hissed along the polished ice.     --Wordsworth.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Hissing \Hiss"ing\, n.
   1. The act of emitting a hiss or hisses.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The occasion of contempt; the object of scorn and
      derision. [Archaic]
      [1913 Webster]

            I will make this city desolate, and a hissing.
                                                  --Jer. xix. 8.
      [1913 Webster]
    

129 Moby Thesaurus words for "hissing":
      Bronx cheer, assibilation, banter, bantering, birdies, blooping,
      blurping, boo, booing, buzz, catcall, catcalling, chaffing,
      derision, derisive, derisory, distortion, effervescence,
      effervescent, effervescing, feedback, fizz, fizzle, fizzling,
      fleering, flippancy, flippant, flutter, fluttering, fooling,
      frication, frictional rustling, grinning, hiss, hoot, hooting,
      howling, hum, hush, hushing, jeering, joshing, kidding, leering,
      levity, lisp, mockery, mocking, motorboating, panning, quizzical,
      ragging, railing, raillery, rallying, raspberry, razz, razzing,
      rhonchus, ridicule, ridiculing, roasting, rumble, scoffing,
      scratching, shredding, shush, shushing, sibilance, sibilant,
      sibilation, siffle, sigmatism, siss, sissing, sizz, sizzle,
      sizzling, smart, smart-aleckiness, smart-alecky, smart-ass,
      smartness, smirking, sneering, sneeze, sneezing, snickering, sniff,
      sniffing, sniffle, sniffling, sniggering, snore, snoring, snort,
      snorting, snuff, snuffle, snuffling, spit, splutter, sputter,
      squash, squeals, squelch, squish, static, sternutation, stertor,
      swish, taunting, teasing, the bird, twitting, wheeze, wheezing,
      wheezy, whish, whistle, whistles, whistling, white noise, whiz,
      whoosh, woomping, wow, wowwows, zip