noun

1. a curved or bent piece of metal, wood, etc. used to catch, hold, or pull something; specif.,
   1. a curved piece of wire or bone with a barbed end, for catching fish
   2. a curved piece of metal, wood, etc. fastened to a wall or chain at one end, used to hang things on, raise things up, etc. a coat hook
   3. a small metal catch inserted in a loop, or eye, to fasten clothes together
   4. Naut., Slang an anchor
2. a curved metal implement for cutting grain, etc.
3. something shaped like a hook; specif.,
   1. a curving cape or headland: used in place names Sandy Hook
   2. a sharp bend in a stream

4. Etymology: back-form. < hooker (sense )

   a trap; snare
5. Informal something intended to attract attention or encourage involvement; specif., in popular music, a catchy, repeated phrase, verse, riff, etc.
6. 1. the path of a hit or thrown ball that curves away to the left from a right-handed player or to the right from a left-handed player
   2. a ball that follows such a path
7. Boxing a short, sharp blow delivered with the arm bent at the elbow
8. Music flag (sense )

Etymology: ME < OE hoc, akin to hake, MDu hoec, ON hakr < IE base *keg-, peg for hanging

transitive verb

1. to attach or fasten with or as with a hook or hook and eye
2. to take hold of with a hook
3. to catch with or as with a hook
4. to attack with the horns, as a bull; gore
5. to make into the shape of a hook
6. ☆ to make (a rug, wall hanging, etc.) by drawing strips of yarn or cloth with a hook through a canvas or burlap backing
7. to hit or throw (a ball) in a hook ()
8. Informal
   1. to tempt or attract
   2. to cause addiction to
   3. to steal; snatch
9. Boxing to hit with a hook

intransitive verb

1. to curve as a hook does
2. to be fastened with a hook or hooks
3. to be caught by a hook
4. ☆ Slang to work as a prostitute