Sense: 1-4, 7
| Date: | 1600-1700 |
| Origin: | mistress |
| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Origin: | MISS1 |
| |||||||||
miss2 S2
1 used in front of the family name of a woman who is not married to address her politely, to write to her, or to talk about her [↪ Mrs, Ms, Mr]:
I'd like to make an appointment with Miss Taylor. ! Some unmarried women prefer to be addressed as Ms because it does not draw attention to whether or not they are married. ➔ see also note at Mr
Miss
I'd like to make an appointment with Miss Taylor.2 used to refer to a woman who represents a country, city etc in a beauty competition
Miss Italy/Ohio/World etc
3 used as a polite way of speaking to a young woman when you do not know her name [↪ madam, sir]:
Excuse me, miss, you've dropped your umbrella.
young woman
spoken
Excuse me, miss, you've dropped your umbrella.4 used by children when speaking to a female teacher, whether she is married or not [↪ sir]:
I know the answer, Miss.
teacher
British English spoken
I know the answer, Miss.5 to decide not to do something :
I'd better give the coffee a miss. I'm due at a meeting in half an hour.
give something a miss
British English informal
I'd better give the coffee a miss. I'm due at a meeting in half an hour.6 an occasion when you fail to hit, catch, or hold something :
Will he score a goal this time? No, no it's a miss.
not hit/catch
[countable]
Will he score a goal this time? No, no it's a miss.7 a young girl, especially one who has been bad or rude :
She's a cheeky little miss.
young girl
[countable] British English spoken
She's a cheeky little miss. ➔ hit-and-miss
