English Reference
verb · noun

kiss

v. · n.
US /ˈkɪs/ UK /kˈɪs/ kiss UK spelling kissed

  1. 01 A1 Beginner

    v.to touch someone with your lips to show that you love them or to say hello.

    v.to touch or press with the lips as an expression of affection, greeting, or respect.

    Simple

    She kissed her daughter on the forehead before she went to sleep.

    In context

    The protagonist kissed his partner deeply before departing for the station, unsure of when their paths might cross again.

    Usage

    Often used with a direct object representing the person or the specific body part touched.

    pecksmooch
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    v.to touch something very gently or slightly.

    v.to touch or brush against something lightly or superficially.

    Simple

    The gentle waves started to kiss the shore as the tide came in.

    In context

    A soft evening breeze seemed to kiss the surface of the lake, creating tiny ripples that caught the fading light.

    Usage

    Often used metaphorically with inanimate subjects like wind or waves.

  3. 03 A1 Beginner

    n.the act of touching someone with your lips.

    n.a touch or caress with the lips.

    Simple

    He gave his mother a quick kiss on the cheek and ran outside.

    In context

    The couple shared a lingering kiss under the clock tower, oblivious to the commuters rushing past them.

  4. 04 B1 Intermediate Informal

    n.the letter 'X' used at the end of a message to represent a kiss.

    n.a written symbol, typically the letter 'X', representing a kiss in informal correspondence.

    Simple

    She ended her text to her grandmother with three kisses.

    In context

    Even in their briefest exchanges, they maintained the habit of appending a single kiss to the end of every digital message.

    Usage

    Usually placed at the very end of a letter, text, or email.

  5. 05 B1 Intermediate American English Cooking

    n.a small piece of chocolate that is shaped like a drop.

    n.a small, bite-sized piece of chocolate, often conical or drop-shaped.

    Simple

    The bowl on the desk was filled with silver-wrapped chocolate kisses.

    In context

    The pastry chef decorated the perimeter of the cake with dark chocolate kisses and fresh raspberries.

    Usage

    Commonly associated with specific commercial brands in North America.

  6. 06 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    n.when two things in space or two balloons touch very lightly.

    n.the light contact or alignment of two bodies, such as a mid-air balloon graze or a planetary conjunction.

    Simple

    The two balloons experienced a gentle kiss during the festival flight.

    In context

    The rare astronomical kiss occurred when the two planets reached the same longitude as viewed from the observatory.

    Usage

    In aviation, specifically refers to hot air balloon envelopes touching.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated