hack
To hack is defined as to chop, cut or damage in a rough or irregular way.
(verb)An example of to hack is using a splitting maul to chop wood.
The definition of hack is to have a dry harsh cough.
(verb)An example of hack is the type of cough which is often experienced by a person who smokes.
See hack in Webster's New World College Dictionary
transitive verb
- to chop or cut crudely, roughly, or irregularly, as with a hatchet
- to shape, trim, damage, etc. with or as with rough, sweeping strokes
- to break up (land) as with a hoe or mattock
- ☆ Slang to deal with or carry out successfully
- ☆ Slang to annoy or irritate: usually with off
- ☆ Basketball to foul by striking the arm of (an opponent who has the ball) with the hand or arm
- Rugby to foul by kicking (an opponent) on the shins
Origin: ME hacken < OE haccian, akin to Ger hacken < IE base *keg-, peg, hook > hook, hatchel
intransitive verb
- to make rough or irregular cuts
- to give harsh, dry coughs
- ☆ Basketball to hack an opponent
noun
- a tool for cutting or hacking, as an ax, hoe, mattock, etc.
- a slash, gash, or notch made by a sharp implement
- a hacking blow
- a harsh, dry cough
noun
- a horse for hire
- a horse for all sorts of work
- a saddle horse
- an old, worn-out horse
- a person hired to do routine, often dull, writing; literary drudge
- ☆ a worker for a political party, usually holding office through patronage and serving devotedly and unquestioningly
- a carriage or coach for hire
- Informal
- a taxicab
- a hackman or cabdriver
Origin: contr. < hackney
transitive verb
- to employ as a hack
- to hire out (a horse, etc.)
- to wear out or make stale by constant use
intransitive verb
- Brit. to jog along on a horse
- ☆ Informal to drive a taxicab
- Comput. to be a hacker (sense )
adjective
- employed as a hack: a hack writer
- done by a hack: a hack job
- stale; trite; hackneyed: hack writing
noun
Origin: orig., board on which a falcon's meat was put, var. of hatch
transitive verb
See hack in American Heritage Dictionary 4
verb hacked, hack·ing, hacks verb, transitive
- To cut or chop with repeated and irregular blows: hacked down the saplings.
- To break up the surface of (soil).
- a. Informal To alter (a computer program): hacked her text editor to read HTML.b. To gain access to (a computer file or network) illegally or without authorization: hacked the firm's personnel database.
- Slang To cut or mutilate as if by hacking: hacked millions off the budget.
- Slang To cope with successfully; manage: couldn't hack a second job.
- To chop or cut something by hacking.
- Informal a. To write or refine computer programs skillfully.b. To use one's skill in computer programming to gain illegal or unauthorized access to a file or network: hacked into the company's intranet.
- To cough roughly or harshly.
- A rough, irregular cut made by hacking.
- A tool, such as a hoe, used for hacking.
- A blow made by hacking.
- A rough, dry cough.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English hakken
Origin: , from Old English -haccian; see keg- in Indo-European roots
Origin: . V., intr., sense 2, back-formation from hacker1
.Related Forms:
- hackˈa·ble adjective
noun
- A horse used for riding or driving; a hackney.
- A worn-out horse for hire; a jade.
- a. One who undertakes unpleasant or distasteful tasks for money or reward; a hireling.b. A writer hired to produce routine or commercial writing.
- A carriage or hackney for hire.
- Informal a. A taxicab.b. See hackie.
- To let out (a horse) for hire.
- To make banal or hackneyed with indiscriminate use.
- To drive a taxicab for a living.
- To work for hire as a writer.
- To ride on horseback at an ordinary pace.
- By, characteristic of, or designating routine or commercial writing: hack prose.
- Hackneyed; banal.
Origin:
Origin: Short for hackney
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