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# hiccough

noun (a hiccough, hiccoughs); verb (hiccough, hiccoughs, hiccoughed, hiccoughing)

«hiccough» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. An old spelling of «hiccup»: a sudden, sharp «hic» sound when a muscle under your lungs (the diaphragm) jerks and makes you breathe in. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hiccough/#m1)
2. (hiccoughs / hiccups) A short spell of these sounds one after another. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hiccough/#m2)
3. A small problem or delay: «a hiccough in our plans». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hiccough/#m3)

### In the lessons

The spelling «hiccough» is found in older books; today most people write «hiccup». In science, hiccups come from the diaphragm tightening suddenly; they usually stop by themselves. Myths say a fright cures them – not proven. Phrases: «have (the) hiccups», «a slight hiccough».

### Examples

- I got hiccoughs after drinking my fizzy drink too fast. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hiccough/#x1)
- He hiccoughed all through the school assembly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hiccough/#x2)
- The old book spells hiccup as «hiccough». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hiccough/#x3)
- My little brother tried to scare away my hiccoughs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hiccough/#x4)
- There was a small hiccough with the bus, but we arrived on time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hiccough/#x5)
- Hiccoughs happen when your diaphragm jerks. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hiccough/#x6)

### Note

Spelling trap: «hiccough» is said exactly like «hiccup» («HIK-up»), not like «cough». Prefer «hiccup» in your own writing. Plural: hiccoughs/hiccups.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «hiccough» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hiccough/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«hiccough» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/hiccough.html) on Mova free.