1. 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.
2. an attack of these spasms. often used with the.
3. the sound made by such a spasm or a sound resembling it: "the urgent hiccup of a police siren” ( john Updike).
4. to make a hiccup or a sound like a hiccup.
5. to have an attack of hiccups.

1. A spasm of the diaphragm, or the resulting sound.
2. A minor setback.
3. to have the hiccups.

1. to be affected with the hiccups; make the sound of a hiccup.
2. to say, pronounce, or call out with an utterance interrupted by hiccups, as one who is intoxicated.
3. A quick, involuntary, inspiratory movement of the diaphragm brought suddenly to a stop by an involuntary closing of the glottis; the affection of having such spasms: in the latter sense generally in the plural: as, to have the hiccups.

1. (usually plural) the state of having reflex spasms of the diaphragm accompanied by a rapid closure of the glottis producing an audible sound; sometimes a symptom of indigestion
2. breathe spasmodically, and make a sound