hookup
Americannoun
-
an act or instance of hooking up.
-
an assembly and connection of parts, components, or apparatus into a circuit, network, machine, or system.
-
the circuit, network, machine, or system so formed.
-
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.
-
Informal. an association, alliance, or cooperative effort.
A closer hookup of Caribbean nations would be good for international trade.
-
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.
-
-
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.
-
Etymology
Origin of hookup
An Americanism dating back to 1900–05; noun use of verb phrase hook up
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On her campus, short-term hookups - known as “situationships” - are typically low commitment and high risk from both health and emotional perspectives.
From Washington Times
On her campus, short-term hookups — known as “situationships” — are typically low commitment and high risk from both health and emotional perspectives.
From Seattle Times
Efforts to ban natural gas hookups in new construction have sparked arguments at the local level about the appropriate reach of government.
From Washington Times
Shortly after a federal appeals court ruling threatened to hamstring Berkeley’s ban on new natural gas hookups, New York state has passed a budget barring gas appliances in new buildings.
From Los Angeles Times
The GOP inquiry follows new efforts by Democratic states and local governments to ban new natural gas hookups, while Republican-led states have moved to prohibit natural gas bans.
From Washington Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
