miss

I UK [mɪs] / US verb
Word forms "miss":
present tense I/you/we/they miss he/she/it misses present participle missing past tense missed past participle missed
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1)

a) [intransitive/transitive] to fail to hit or reach something that you aim at

The plane missed the runway in the rain.

He aimed a kick at it and missed.

b) [intransitive] to fail to catch something that is being thrown or given to you

I tried to catch the ball but missed.

2) [transitive] to fail to be present for something, or to not be in a place when someone else is there

We were late and missed the first part of the concert.

I had to miss a week of school.

We must have missed each other by about an hour.

not miss something for the world (= not want to miss something you enjoy):

I wouldn't miss the annual Christmas party for the world.

3) [transitive] to be too late for a train, bus etc

I've got a meeting and I don't want to miss the train.

If you don't go now you'll miss the post.

4) [transitive] to fail to notice or understand something

I missed most of what she said.

He caught most of the mistakes but missed a few.

miss the point (= not understand what someone means):

Sue had missed the point entirely.

you can't miss it (= it is very easy to notice):

The house is next to the station – you can't miss it.

5) [transitive] to fail to take advantage of an opportunity

miss a chance/opportunity to do something:

She realized she had missed an opportunity to speak to Brian.

He seemed unaware of the great chance that he had missed.

6) [transitive] to escape something that is unpleasant or uncomfortable

If I leave at eight, I miss the traffic.

The accused man narrowly missed a prison sentence.

7)

a) [transitive] to feel sad about someone because they are not with you any more

He was a tower of strength, and we miss him enormously.

b) to wish you still had something or could still do something

I'm missing our lunchtime drinks on Friday.

miss doing something:

We miss watching her ride her horse.

8) [transitive] to notice that you do not have something any more

She only missed the purse when she got home.

9) [intransitive] if an engine misses, it fails to burn the fuel and loses power

See:

misfire

10) [transitive] if a woman misses her monthly period, it does not happen

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not/never miss a trick — informal to notice every opportunity and use it

Oscar, who never misses a trick, noticed the letter and asked what it was about.

- miss the boat

- not miss much

Phrasal verbs:

- miss out

II UK [mɪs] / US noun
Word forms "miss":
singular miss plural misses
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1) Miss a title used in front of the last name or whole name of a girl or woman who is not married

Miss Jane Smith

There is a Miss Stevens waiting to see you.

a) formal used for talking politely to a girl or young woman whose name you do not know

Excuse me, miss, are you looking for something?

b) British a title used by children when talking to a woman teacher

c) used in the title of a woman who has won a beauty competition

Miss America

d) [countable] informal old-fashioned a girl or young woman, especially one who is rude or badly behaved

What a sly little miss she is.

••

See:

Mrs, Ms

2) [countable] a failure to hit or catch something, or to score in a game

3) [countable] a failure, especially of a CD or a film

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- give something a miss