/ mɪs; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
NOT HIT, CATCH, etc.
1.
to fail to hit, catch, reach, etc. sth :
[ vn ]
How many goals has he missed this season?
The bullet missed her by about six inches.
[ v ]
She threw a plate at him and only narrowly missed .
[ v -ing ]
She narrowly missed hitting him.
NOT HEAR / SEE
2.
[ vn ] to fail to hear, see or notice sth :
The hotel is the only white building on the road— you can't miss it .
Don't miss next week's issue!
I missed her name.
Your mother will know who's moved in—she doesn't miss much .
NOT UNDERSTAND
3.
[ vn ] to fail to understand sth :
He completely missed the joke.
You're missing the point (= failing to understand the main part) of what I'm saying.
NOT BE / GO SOMEWHERE
4.
[ vn ] to fail to be or go somewhere :
She hasn't missed a game all year.
You missed a good party last night (= because you did not go) .
'Are you coming to the school play?' ' I wouldn't miss it for the world .'
NOT DO STH
5.
[ vn ] to fail to do sth :
You can't afford to miss meals (= not eat meals) when you're in training.
to miss a turn (= to not play when it is your turn in a game)
6.
to not take the opportunity to do sth :
[ vn ]
The sale prices were too good to miss .
It was an opportunity not to be missed .
[also v -ing ]
BE LATE
7.
to be or arrive too late for sth :
[ vn ]
If I don't leave now I'll miss my plane.
Sorry I'm late—have I missed anything?
'Is Ann there?' 'You've just missed her (= she has just left) .'
[also v -ing ]
FEEL SAD
8.
to feel sad because you can no longer see sb or do sth that you like :
[ vn ]
She will be greatly missed when she leaves.
What did you miss most when you were in France?
[ v -ing ]
I don't miss getting up at six every morning!
[also vn -ing ]
NOTICE STH NOT THERE
9.
[ vn ] to notice that sb/sth is not where they/it should be :
When did you first miss the necklace?
We seem to be missing some students this morning.
AVOID STH BAD
10.
to avoid sth unpleasant
SYN escape :
[ vn ]
If you go now you should miss the crowds.
[ v -ing ]
He fell and just missed knocking the whole display over.
OF ENGINE
11.
[ v ] = misfire
•
IDIOMS
- he, she, etc. doesn't miss a trick
- miss the boat
—more at heart , mark noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- miss sb/sth out
- miss out (on sth)
■ noun
TITLE / FORM OF ADDRESS
1.
Miss used before the family name, or the first and family name, of a woman who is not married, in order to speak or write to her politely :
That's all, thank you, Miss Lipman.
—compare Mrs , Ms
2.
Miss a title given to the winner of a beauty contest in a particular country, town, etc. :
Miss Brighton
the Miss World contest
3.
Miss ( informal ) used especially by men to address a young woman when they do not know her name :
Will that be all, Miss?
4.
Miss ( BrE , informal ) used as a form of address by children in some schools to a woman teacher, whether she is married or not :
Good morning, Miss!
—compare sir
5.
( old-fashioned ) a girl or young woman
NOT HIT, CATCH, etc.
6.
a failure to hit, catch or reach sth :
He scored two goals and had another two near misses .
•
IDIOMS
- give sth a miss
- a miss is as good as a mile
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb and noun sense 6 Old English missan , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German missen .
noun senses 1 to 5 mid 17th cent.: abbreviation of mistress .