MISS

v. & n. --v. 1 tr. (also absol.) fail to hit, reach, find, catch, etc. (an object or goal). 2 tr. fail to catch (a bus, train, etc.). 3 tr. fail to experience, see, or attend (an occurrence or event). 4 tr. fail to meet (a person); fail to keep (an appointment). 5 tr. fail to seize (an opportunity etc.) (I missed my chance). 6 tr. fail to hear or understand (I'm sorry, I missed what you said). 7 tr. a regret the loss or absence of (a person or thing) (did you miss me while I was away?). b notice the loss or absence of (an object) (bound to miss the key if it isn't there). 8 tr. avoid (go early to miss the traffic). 9 tr. = miss out 1. 10 intr. (of an engine etc.) fail, misfire. --n. 1 a failure to hit, reach, attain, connect, etc. 2 colloq. = MISCARRIAGE 1. øbe missing not have (see also MISSING adj.). give (a thing) a miss avoid, leave alone (gave the party a miss). miss the boat (or bus) lose an opportunity. miss fire (of a gun) fail to go off or hit the mark (cf. MISFIRE). a miss is as good as a mile the fact of failure or escape is not affected by the narrowness of the margin. miss out 1 omit, leave out (missed out my name from the list). 2 (usu. foll. by on) colloq. fail to get or experience (always misses out on the good times). not miss much be alert. not miss a trick never fail to seize an opportunity, advantage, etc. øømissable adj. [OE missan f. Gmc]