hiccup: Meaning and Definition of

hic•cup

1. a quick, involuntary inhalation that follows a spasm of the diaphragm and is suddenly checked by closure of the glottis, producing a short, relatively sharp sound.
2. Usually,the condition of having such spasms: She got the hiccups just as she began to speak.
3. a minor difficulty, interruption, setback, etc.: a hiccup in the stock market.

1. to make the sound of a hiccup: The motor hiccuped as it started.
2. to have the hiccups.
3. to experience a temporary decline, setback, interruption, etc.: There was general alarm when the economy hiccuped.