Hip Meaning
/hɪp/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe outward-projecting parts of the pelvis and top of the femur and the overlying tissue.
nounThe inclined external angle formed by the intersection of two sloping roof planes.
Sentence Examples
The man wore a gun on his hip.
I am aware that my hip aches when it rains.
He was trying to explain the difference between hip hop and rap.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The singer wore a very ____ outfit that all the young fans wanted.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He injured his ____ during the football game and had to be carried off the field by his teammates.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English hipe, hupe, from Old English hype, from Proto-Germanic *hupiz (compare Dutch heup, Low German Huop, German Hüfte), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱewb- (compare Welsh cysgu (“to sleep”), Latin cubāre (“to lie”), Ancient Greek κύβος (kúbos, “hollow in the hips”), Albanian sup (“shoulder”), Sanskrit शुप्ति (śúpti, “shoulder”)), from *ḱew- (“to bend”). More at high. The sense "drug addict" derives from addicts lying on their hips while using certain drugs such as opium.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"in all bridges preference will be given to designs having struts for hip verticals"
— 1887, John Alexander Low Waddell, General Specifications for Highway Bridges of Iron and Steel:
"Ike explained to me that the Mexican government issued permits to hips allowing them a definite quantity of morphine per month at wholesale prices."
— 1953, William Lee [pseudonym; William S. Burroughs], Junkie, New York: Ace Books:
"1. BROTHER. […] What doo you gather there?
OLD MAN. Hips and Hawes, and stickes and strawes, and thinges that I gather on the ground my sonne."
— c. 1590 (date written), G[eorge] P[eele], The Old Wiues Tale. […], London: […] Iohn Danter, for Raph Hancocke, and Iohn Hardie, […], published 1595, →OCLC, [line 175-178]:
"The oaks bear mast, the briars scarlet hips;
The bounteous housewife, Nature, on each bush
Lays her full mess before you."
— c. 1605–1608 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
"I am also starting a folk-entourage school where you can go into gladitorial training to hang out in hip crowds with budding young folk stars."
— 1965 December, Phil Ochs, “That Was The Year That Weren't”, in Cavalier:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The singer wore a very ____ outfit that all the young fans wanted.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He injured his ____ during the football game and had to be carried off the field by his teammates.