I. ˈsizəl verb
( sizzled ; sizzled ; sizzling -z(ə)liŋ ; sizzles )
Etymology: perhaps freq. of siss
transitive verb
1. : to burn up or sear with scorching heat typically so as to produce a hissing sound
the sun was beginning to sizzle the whole wide valley — Richard Bissell
2. : to affect painfully by heated language
speakers sizzled the opposition
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to make a hissing sound
a dish of sizzling fat — Richard Llewellyn
oil lamp which sizzled softly on his table — R.P.Warren
powdery snow sizzled under their skis — Aldous Huxley
only the desultory sizzling of some little bird — D.C.Peattie
b. : to produce the effect of making a hissing sound
ink that sizzles on the page — Rotarian
everyone sizzling with enthusiasm — W.A.White
the town sizzled with the news — Dorothy Parker
2. : to move with or as if with a hissing sound
lava sizzling down the snowy mountainside
cars sizzled past us on the highway
3. : to be in a state of partially repressed agitation caused especially by deep anger or resentment
sizzling because of the unsupported allegations
4. : to perform or become performed at top form or in a noticeably improved manner
the champion sizzled on the course today
sales immediately began to sizzle
II. noun
( -s )
: a hissing sound (as of something frying over a fire)
there trailed in her wake a sizzle of gossip — Marcia Davenport
III. noun
1. : pizzazz herein
added a little sizzle to a show that had begun to sputter — David Gritten
2. : excitement
conventioneers … looking for a bit of sizzle — D.A.Lanegran