hex

¹ American  

[heks] / hɛks /

verb (used with object)

1. to bewitch; practice witchcraft on.

   He was accused of hexing his neighbors' cows because they suddenly stopped giving milk.

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noun

1. spell; charm.

   With all this rain, somebody must have put a hex on our picnic.

2. a witch.

hex ² American  

[heks] / hɛks /

adjective

Informal.

1. hexagonal.

   a bolt with a matching washer and hex nut.

2. hexadecimal.

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hex. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. hexagon

2. hexagonal.

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hex ¹ British  

/ hɛks /

noun

1. 1. short for hexadecimal

   2. ( as modifier )

      hex code

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hex ² British  

/ hɛks /

verb

1. (tr) to bewitch

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noun

1. an evil spell or symbol of bad luck

2. a witch

Other Word Forms

• hexer noun

Etymology

Origin of hex¹

1820–30; < German Hexe witch; hag ¹

Origin of hex²

First recorded in 1920–25; by shortening

Example Sentences

Ms McAuley was awarded with a golden hex key medal and was congratulated by Kevin McCloud, who was the host of the event and is best known for presenting Grand Designs on Channel 4.

From BBC

Why have Townsend's Scotland had hex on England?

From BBC

So how, after decades of pain, have Scotland turned the tables in recent years and put a Calcutta Cup hex on the English?

From BBC

People blowing up my phone like, “Man, it’s not fair. He gets 17 games,” or, “We’re going to put a hex on him.”

From Los Angeles Times

The Teen’s true identity remains a secret thanks to the sigil hex that prevents others from hearing any identifying information about him, including his real name.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• jinx
• whammy