• enPR: kĭs, IPA: /kɪs/, [kʰɪs]

kiss (kisses, present participle kissing; past and past participle kissed)

1. (transitive) To touch with the lips or press the lips against, usually to show love or affection or passion, or as part of a greeting.
   • c. 1590–1592, William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act 3, scene ii]:

     He […] kissed her lips with such a clamorous smack, / That at the parting all the church echoed.

   • 1610-11, William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act II Scene 2

     I'll kiss thy foot. I'll swear myself thy subject.

   • 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], OCLC 752825175 ↗:

     But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection. ¶ […] The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window […], and a 'bead' could be drawn upon Molly, the dairymaid, kissing the fogger behind the hedge, little dreaming that the deadly tube was levelled at them.

2. (ambitransitive) To (cause to) touch lightly or slightly; to come into contact.

   The nearside of the car just kissed a parked truck as he took the corner at high speed. 

   His ball kissed the black into the corner pocket.

   • c. 1591–1595, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act 2, scene vi]:

     Like fire and powder, / Which as they kiss consume.

   • 1870, Alfred Tennyson, The Window

     Rose, rose and clematis, / Trail and twine and clasp and kiss.

3. (intransitive) Of two or more people, to touch each other's lips together, usually to express love or affection or passion.
4. (transitive, archaic) To treat with fondness.

• See also Thesaurus:kiss

• French: embrasser
• German: küssen, knutschen
• Italian: baciare
• Portuguese: beijar
• Russian: целова́ть
• Spanish: besar

• French: effleurer
• German: küssen
• Portuguese: beijar, raspar
• Russian: каса́ться

• French: s'embrasser
• Italian: baciarsi
• Portuguese: beijar-se
• Russian: целова́ться
• Spanish: besar

kiss (plural kisses)

1. A touch with the lips, usually to express love or affection, or as a greeting.
2. An 'X' mark placed at the end of a letter or other type of message.
3. A type of filled chocolate candy, shaped as if someone had kissed the top. See Hershey's Kisses.

• (touch with the lips) See Thesaurus:buss

• French: baiser, bisou, bécot, bec (Quebec), bise
• German: Kuss, Busserl
• Italian: bacio
• Portuguese: beijo
• Russian: поцелу́й
• Spanish: beso, ósculo

• Russian: безе́

1. Acronym of keep it simple, stupid

   KISS when you're writing.

kiss (uncountable)

1. The KISS principle.

   One simply cannot discuss simplicity in writing without mentioning KISS.

1. Surname