kissing
n. uncountablen. the act of touching someone with your lips to show love or to say hello.
n. the act of touching another person or an object with the lips as a sign of affection, greeting, or sexual desire.
The movie ends with a scene of romantic kissing.
In some cultures, kissing on both cheeks is a standard way to greet a friend or family member.
The novel explores how public displays of kissing have evolved from scandalous social transgressions to widely accepted expressions of intimacy in modern urban environments.
From Middle English kissynge, cussinde, from Old English cyssende, from Proto-West Germanic kussijandī, from Proto-Germanic kussijandz, equivalent to kiss + -ing. Cognate with Saterland Frisian küsjend, Dutch kussend, German Low German küssend, German küssend, Swedish kyssande, Icelandic kyssandi.
From Middle English kissynge, kyssynge, kessinge, from Old English cyssing, from Proto-West Germanic kussīngu, equivalent to kiss + -ing. Cognate with Middle Dutch cussinge (whence Dutch kussing (“kissing”)), Middle Low German küssinge (“kissing”), Middle High German küssunge (“kissing”). Compare also Old English cossettung (“kissing”).
Typically functions as an uncountable gerund-noun; when referring to specific instances, 'kisses' is preferred.