hookup

[ hook-uhp ]
See synonyms for hookup on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. an act or instance of hooking up.

  2. an assembly and connection of parts, components, or apparatus into a circuit, network, machine, or system.

  1. the circuit, network, machine, or system so formed.

  2. a device or connection, as a plug, hose, or pipe, for conveying electricity, a water supply, etc., from a source to a user: Some campsites have electrical hookups for trailers.

  3. Informal. an association, alliance, or cooperative effort: A closer hookup of Caribbean nations would be good for international trade.

  4. Informal.

    • a sexual encounter without a long-term commitment: I’m over these college boys who are only interested in meaningless hookups.

    • a person with whom one has such an encounter: I ran into an old hookup at the club, but I pretended not to remember her.

  5. Slang.

    • a supplier of illicit goods, usually drugs: My hookup is getting out of the game—can you introduce me to your guy?

    • access to illegal drugs: When you are trying to score on the street it is easy to see who has the hookup.

Origin of hookup

1
An Americanism dating back to 1900–05; noun use of verb phrase hook up

Words Nearby hookup

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

How to use hookup in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hook-up

hook-up

noun
  1. the contact of an aircraft in flight with the refuelling hose of a tanker aircraft

  2. an alliance or relationship, esp an unlikely one, between people, countries, etc

  1. the linking of broadcasting equipment or stations to transmit a special programme

verbhook up (adverb)
  1. to connect (two or more people or things)

  2. (often foll by with) slang to get married (to)

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 hookup

hookup

Assemble or wire a mechanism, as in Dick helped us hook up the stereo system. [1920s]

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