Also spelled hiccough and hiccoughed
Meanings
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1
noun
an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm followed by a sudden closure of the vocal cords and a short sound
A loud hiccup interrupted his attempt to speak.
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2
verb
to make the short sound caused by repeated spasms of the diaphragm
She began to hiccup after drinking the water too quickly.
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3
noun
a minor and usually temporary problem, interruption, or delay
A brief software hiccup delayed the payment by a few minutes.
Thesaurus
Etymology
An imitative word, altered in the late sixteenth century from earlier hicket or hickock by association with the sound hic. The spelling hiccough arose later from a mistaken association with cough, although it is pronounced like hiccup.