| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | cyssan |
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kiss1 S3 W3

1 [intransitive and transitive] to touch someone with your lips as a greeting, to show them love, or as part of a sexual relationship :
Maggie leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
Georgina took him in her arms and kissed him on the lips.
Jim and Mary kissed (=they kissed each other).
Maggie leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
Georgina took him in her arms and kissed him on the lips.
Jim and Mary kissed (=they kissed each other).2 [transitive] to touch something with your lips as a sign of respect :
She raised the crucifix to her lips and kissed it.
She raised the crucifix to her lips and kissed it.3 to accept that you will lose something or lose an opportunity to do something :
She knew if she concentrated on her marriage she could kiss her career goodbye.
kiss goodbye to something/kiss something goodbye
informal
She knew if she concentrated on her marriage she could kiss her career goodbye.4 used, especially to a child, to say that you will take away the pain of something by kissing them :
Here, let Mommy kiss it better.
kiss something better
spoken
Here, let Mommy kiss it better.5 an insulting expression used to show that you do not respect someone
kiss my ass
American English informal not polite6 to be too nice to someone who can give you something you want - used to show disapproval
kiss (somebody's) ass
American English informal not polite7 [transitive] literary if the wind, sun etc kisses something, it gently moves or touches it
kiss up to somebody
phrasal verb
If you say that, it'll look like you're kissing up to me.