hiccup
Involuntary breath interruption
A hiccup is a spasmodic inhalation caused by involuntary contraction of the diaphragm, producing a characteristic sharp sound.
The plural hiccups names the condition: I've got the hiccups.
Figuratively, a hiccup is a minor interruption or setback: a hiccup in the negotiations, just a small hiccup in the schedule.
Also spelled hiccough.
Involuntary muscle contraction
- diaphragmMuscle separating chest, abdomen
- contractionReduction in size
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
- glottisVocal cord opening
reflex · vagus nerve · irritation · swallowing · breathing · rhythmic · repetitive · sudden
spasm
Involuntary muscle contraction
- diaphragmMuscle separating chest, abdomen
- contractionReduction in size
- involuntaryNot under conscious control
glottis · reflex · vagus nerve · irritation · swallowing · breathing · rhythmic · repetitive · sudden · inhalation
- sudden eventsexplosion, earthquake, lightning strike, tornado, heart attack
- body actionsbreathe, inhale, exhale, swallow, blink
- body soundsheart sounds, heart murmur, sneeze, wheeze, heartbeat
- body functionsbreathing, digestion, heartbeat, circulation, respiration
- delaysdelays, delay, delayed, postponement, postpone
- minor problemssnag, glitch, hitch, annoyance, nuisance
hiccupsmooth sailing
Untroubled progress forward
continuation · continuity · flow · progression · run
hiccupsuccess
Favorable outcome attained
triumph · breakthrough · achievement · opportunity · boon
hiccups, hiccuping, hiccuped, hiccupping, hiccough, hiccupped, hiccoughs, hiccoughed, hiccoughing