hack

[ hak ]

/ hæk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hack ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to cut, notch, slice, chop, or sever (something) with or as with heavy, irregular blows (often followed by up or down): to hack meat; to hack down trees.

to break up the surface of (the ground).

to clear (a road, path, etc.) by cutting away vines, trees, brush, or the like: They hacked a trail through the jungle.

to damage or injure by crude, harsh, or insensitive treatment; mutilate; mangle: The editor hacked the story to bits.

to reduce or cut ruthlessly; trim: The Senate hacked the budget severely before returning it to the House.

Slang. to deal or cope with; handle: He can't hack all this commuting.

Computers.

to modify (a computer program or electronic device) or write (a program) in a skillful or clever way: Developers have hacked the app. I hacked my tablet to do some very cool things.
to circumvent security and break into (a network, computer, file, etc.), usually with malicious intent: Criminals hacked the bank's servers yesterday. Our team systematically hacks our network to find vulnerabilities.

Informal. to make use of a tip, trick, or efficient method for doing or managing (something): to hack a classic recipe; to hack your weekend with healthy habits.

Basketball. to strike the arm of (an opposing ball handler): He got a penalty for hacking the shooter.

British. to kick or kick at the shins of (an opposing player) in Rugby football.

South Midland and Southern U.S. to embarrass, annoy, or disconcert.

verb (used without object)

to make rough cuts or notches; deal cutting blows.

to cough harshly, usually in short and repeated spasms.

Computers.

to modify a computer program or electronic device in a skillful or clever way: to hack around with HTML.
to break into a network, computer, file, etc., usually with malicious intent.

Tennis.

to take a poor, ineffective, or awkward swing at the ball.
to play tennis at a mediocre level.

British. to kick or kick at an opponent's shins in Rugby football.

noun

a cut, gash, or notch.

a tool, as an ax, hoe, or pick, for hacking.

an act or instance of hacking; a cutting blow.

a short, rasping dry cough.

a hesitation in speech.

Computers.

a piece of code that modifies a computer program in a skillful or clever way: software hacks.
an act or instance of breaking into a network, computer, file, etc., usually with malicious intent (often used attributively): a hack on our system; a recent hack attack.

Informal. a tip, trick, or efficient method for doing or managing something: hacks for holiday entertaining; parenting hacks.

Curling. an indentation made in the ice at the foot score, for supporting the foot in delivering the stone.

British. a gash in the skin produced by a kick, as in Rugby football.

Verb Phrases

hack around, Slang. to pass the time idly; indulge in idle talk.

hack into, Computers. to break into (a network, computer, file, etc.), usually with malicious intent: Students tried to hack into their school server to change their grades.

RELATED WORDS

accomplish, avail, prevail, score, win

Nearby words

hachoo, hachure, hacienda, hacienda heights, haciendado, hack, hack board, hack hammer, hack house, hack off, hackamore

Idioms

hack it, Slang. to handle or cope with a situation or an assignment adequately and calmly: The new recruit just can't hack it.

Origin of hack

1150–1200; Middle English hacken; compare Old English tōhaccian to hack to pieces; cognate with Dutch hakken, German hacken

Synonym study

1. mangle, haggle.

Synonym study

1. See cut.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for hack it (1 of 3)

hack

/ (hæk) /

verb

(when intr, usually foll by at or away) to cut or chop (at) irregularly, roughly, or violently

to cut and clear (a way, path, etc), as through undergrowth

(in sport, esp rugby) to foul (an opposing player) by kicking or striking his shins

basketball to commit the foul of striking (an opposing player) on the arm

(intr) to cough in short dry spasmodic bursts

(tr) to reduce or cut (a story, article, etc) in a damaging way

to manipulate a computer program skilfully, esp, to gain unauthorized access to another computer system

(tr) slang to tolerate; cope withI joined the army but I couldn't hack it

hack to bits to damage severelyhis reputation was hacked to bits

noun

a cut, chop, notch, or gash, esp as made by a knife or axe

any tool used for shallow digging, such as a mattock or pick

a chopping blow

a dry spasmodic cough

a kick on the shins, as in rugby

a wound from a sharp kick

Word Origin for hack

Old English haccian; related to Old Frisian hackia, Middle High German hacken

British Dictionary definitions for hack it (2 of 3)

hack

/ (hæk) /

noun

a horse kept for riding or (more rarely) for driving

an old, ill-bred, or overworked horse

a horse kept for hire

British a country ride on horseback

a drudge

a person who produces mediocre literary or journalistic work

Also called: hackney US a coach or carriage that is for hire

Also called: hackie US informal

a cab driver
a taxi

verb

British to ride (a horse) cross-country for pleasure

(tr) to let (a horse) out for hire

(tr) informal to write (an article) as or in the manner of a hack

(intr) US informal to drive a taxi

adjective

(prenominal) banal, mediocre, or unoriginalhack writing

Word Origin for hack

C17: short for hackney

British Dictionary definitions for hack it (3 of 3)

hack

/ (hæk) /

noun

a rack used for fodder for livestock

a board on which meat is placed for a hawk

a pile or row of unfired bricks stacked to dry

verb (tr)

to place (fodder) in a hack

to place (bricks) in a hack

Word Origin for hack

C16: variant of hatch ²

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

hack

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of hack

Synonym study

Synonym study

British Dictionary definitions for hack it (1 of 3)

hack

verb

noun

Word Origin for hack

British Dictionary definitions for hack it (2 of 3)

hack

noun

verb

adjective

Word Origin for hack

British Dictionary definitions for hack it (3 of 3)

hack

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for hack