fizzle

== English == === Etymology === Attested in English since 1525-35. From earlier fysel (“to fart”). Related to fīsa (“to fart”). Compare with Swedish fisa (“to fart (silently)”). See also feist. It could also come from old Norse: "fise" simply means "blow," like in "blow in the wind." A weather-exposed community in Rogaland, Norway, is called Fister. (In modern language, the verb "fisle" has the same 3 meanings as in English, see below.) === Pronunciation === (UK, US) IPA(key): /ˈfɪzəl/ Rhymes: -ɪzəl === Verb === fizzle (third-person singular simple present fizzles, present participle fizzling, simple past and past participle fizzled) To sputter or hiss. (figuratively, informal) To decay or die off to nothing; to burn out; to end less successfully than previously hoped. (military, of a nuclear weapon) To fail to generate the expected yield when exploded during testing. ==== Derived terms ==== fizzler fizzle out fizzly ==== Translations ==== === Noun === fizzle (plural fizzles) A spluttering or hissing sound. (military) Failure of an exploding nuclear bomb to meet its expected yield during testing. An abortive effort; a flop or dud. A state of agitation or worry. ==== Usage notes ==== In the context of nuclear testing, a fizzle (an explosion with inadequate yield) is distinguished from a dud (a failure to explode at all). ==== Translations ==== === Related terms === fizz fizzy