hawk

1
[ hawk ]
See synonyms for hawk on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. any of numerous birds of prey of the family Accipitridae, having a short, hooked beak, broad wings, and curved talons, often seen circling or swooping at low altitudes.

  2. any of several similar, unrelated birds, as the nighthawk.

  1. Informal. a person who preys on others, as a con artist.

  2. Also called war hawk. Informal. a person, especially one in public office, who advocates war or a belligerent national attitude.: Compare dove1 (def. 5).

  3. any person who pursues an aggressive policy in business, government, etc.: The corporation is now run by a bunch of young hawks.

  4. Economics. an official or advisor who advocates relatively high interest rates or other monetary policies aimed at keeping inflation low.

verb (used without object)
  1. to fly, or hunt on the wing, like a hawk.

  2. to hunt with hawks.

Origin of hawk

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English hauk(e), Old English hafoc; cognate with Old Frisian havek, Old Saxon habuc, Old High German habuh, Old Norse haukr “hawk”

Other words from hawk

  • hawk·like, adjective

Words Nearby hawk

Other definitions for hawk (2 of 5)

hawk2
[ hawk ]

verb (used with object)
  1. to peddle or offer for sale by calling aloud in public.

  2. to advertise or offer for sale: to hawk soap on television.

  1. to spread (rumors, news, etc.).

verb (used without object)
  1. to carry wares about for sale; peddle.

Origin of hawk

2
First recorded in 1470–80; back formation from hawker2

Other definitions for hawk (3 of 5)

hawk3
[ hawk ]

verb (used without object)
  1. to make an effort to raise phlegm from the throat; clear the throat noisily.

verb (used with object)
  1. to raise by noisily clearing the throat: to hawk phlegm up.

noun
  1. a noisy effort to clear the throat.

Origin of hawk

3
First recorded in 1575–85; imitative

Other definitions for hawk (4 of 5)

hawk4
[ hawk ]

noun
  1. a small, square board with a handle underneath it, used by plasterers and masons to hold plaster or mortar being applied.

Origin of hawk

4
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; perhaps variant of hache “battle-ax” (see hatchet)

Other definitions for Hawk (5 of 5)

Hawk
[ hawk ]

nounMilitary.
  1. a medium-range, mobile U.S. surface-to-air missile system.

Origin of Hawk

5
H(oming)A(ll the)W(ay)K(iller)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use hawk in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hawk (1 of 4)

hawk1

/ (hɔːk) /


noun
  1. any of various diurnal birds of prey of the family Accipitridae, such as the goshawk and Cooper's hawk, typically having short rounded wings and a long tail: Related adjective: accipitrine

  2. US and Canadian any of various other falconiform birds, including the falcons but not the eagles or vultures

  1. a person who advocates or supports war or warlike policies: Compare dove 1 (def. 2)

  2. a ruthless or rapacious person

  3. know a hawk from a handsaw to be able to judge things; be discerning

verb
  1. (intr) to hunt with falcons, hawks, etc

  2. (intr) (of falcons or hawks) to fly in quest of prey

  1. to pursue or attack on the wing, as a hawk

Origin of hawk

1
from Shakespeare (Hamlet II:2:375); handsaw is probably a corruption of dialect heronshaw heron Old English hafoc; related to Old Norse haukr, Old Frisian havek, Old High German habuh, Polish kobuz

Derived forms of hawk

  • hawklike, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for hawk (2 of 4)

hawk2

/ (hɔːk) /


verb
  1. to offer (goods) for sale, as in the street

  2. (tr often foll by about) to spread (news, gossip, etc)

Origin of hawk

2
C16: back formation from hawker 1

British Dictionary definitions for hawk (3 of 4)

hawk3

/ (hɔːk) /


verb
  1. (intr) to clear the throat noisily

  2. (tr) to force (phlegm) up from the throat

  1. British a slang word for spit 1

noun
  1. a noisy clearing of the throat

Origin of hawk

3
C16: of imitative origin; see haw ²

British Dictionary definitions for hawk (4 of 4)

hawk4

/ (hɔːk) /


noun
  1. a small square board with a handle underneath, used for carrying wet plaster or mortar: Also called: mortar board

Origin of hawk

4
of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with hawk

hawk

see watch like a hawk.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.