miss

miss¹

—missable, adj.

/mis/, v.t.

1. to fail to hit or strike: to miss a target.

2. to fail to encounter, meet, catch, etc.: to miss a train.

3. to fail to take advantage of: to miss a chance.

4. to fail to be present at or for: to miss a day of school.

5. to notice the absence or loss of: When did you first miss your wallet?

6. to regret the absence or loss of: I miss you all dreadfully.

7. to escape or avoid: He just missed being caught.

8. to fail to perceive or understand: to miss the point of a remark.

v.i.

9. to fail to hit something.

10. to fail of effect or success; be unsuccessful.

11. miss fire. See fire (def. 25).

12. miss out, Chiefly Brit. to omit; leave out.

13. miss out on, to fail to take advantage of, experience, etc.: You missed out on a great opportunity.

n.

14. a failure to hit something.

15. a failure of any kind.

16. an omission.

17. a misfire.

[bef. 900; ME missen, OE missan; c. OFris missa, MLG, MD, OHG missen, ON missa to fail to hit or reach]

miss²

/mis/, n., pl. misses.

1. (cap.) a title of respect for an unmarried woman, conventionally prefixed to her name or to the name of that which she represents: Miss Mary Jones; Miss Sweden.

2. (used by itself, as a term of address, esp. to a young woman): Miss, please bring me some ketchup.

3. (cap.) a title prefixed to a mock surname used to represent a particular attribute of the person, esp. one excessively prominent: Miss Innocent; Miss Congeniality.

4. a young unmarried woman; girl: a radiant miss of 18 or so.

5. misses,

a. a range of sizes, chiefly from 6 to 20, for garments that fit women of average height and build.

b. the department or section of a store where these garments are sold.

c. a garment in this size range.

[1600-10; short for MISTRESS]

Usage. See Ms.

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