To make a hissing or sputtering sound, as a liquid when effervescing or acted on directly by heat; make a sound as of frying.To dry and shrivel up with hissing by the action of fire.To be very hot, as if hissing or shriveling.To dry or burn with or as if with a hissing sound: sometimes followed by up.n. A hissing or sputtering sound.n. Extreme heat, as of a summer day.