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kiss

v. · n.
US //ˈkɪs// UK //kˈɪs// kiss
  1. 1 to touch with lips (v.)
    A1 Beginner

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    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.
  2. 2 to touch lightly (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Literary

    to touch something very gently or slightly.

    to touch or brush against something lightly or superficially.

    Example

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

    Example

    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.
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  1. 3 the act of kissing (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    the act of touching someone with your lips.

    a touch or caress with the lips.

    Example

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

    Example

    The couple shared a lingering kiss under the clock tower, oblivious to the commuters rushing past them.
  2. 4 symbol in a message (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

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

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

    Example

    She ended her text to her grandmother with three kisses.

    Example

    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.

  3. 5 small chocolate (n.)
    B1 Intermediate American English Cooking

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    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.
  4. 6 astronomy/aviation contact (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

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

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

    Example

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

    Example

    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.
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