hickup

Noun

hiccup (plural hiccups)

1. A spasm of the diaphragm, or the resulting sound.
   • There was a loud hiccup from the back of the room and the class erupted in laughter.
   1. A case of the hiccups; the condition of having the spasms of hiccupping; singultus; diaphragmatic myoclonus.
2. (broadly) Any spasm or sudden change.
   • Albert didn't notice the switch, the subliminal flash and hiccup in time as the man he had been talking to only seconds before was catapulted backwards half an hour.2010, Oli Smith, Nuclear Time, page 197
3. (informal) A minor obstacle or setback.
   • There's been a slight hiccup in the processing of this quarter's results.

   Synonyms:

   hang-up

See all 7 meanings of hiccup