hack

Meaning

Verb

1. (transitive) To chop or cut down in a rough manner.
2. To withstand or put up with a difficult situation.
3. To make a quick code change to patch a computer program, often one that, while being effective, is inelegant or makes the program harder to maintain.
4. To accomplish a difficult programming task.
5. (slang, transitive) To work with something on an intimately technical level.
6. (broadly, colloquial, transitive) To apply a trick, shortcut, skill, or novel method to something to increase productivity, efficiency or ease.
7. (slang, transitive) To hack into; to gain unauthorized access to (a computer system, e.g., a website, or network) by manipulating code.
8. (broadly, slang, transitive) To gain unauthorized access to a computer or online account belonging to (a person or organisation).
9. (intransitive) To cheat by using unauthorized modifications.
10. To strike an opponent with one's hockey stick, typically on the leg but occasionally and more seriously on the back, arm, head, etc.
11. To make a flailing attempt to hit the puck with a hockey stick.
12. To swing at a pitched ball.
13. To kick (a player) on the shins.
14. To strike in a frantic movement.
15. (transitive) To strike lightly as part of tapotement massage.

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A tool for chopping.
2. (countable, uncountable) A hacking blow.
3. (countable, uncountable) A gouge or notch made by such a blow.
4. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) A try, an attempt.
5. (countable, uncountable) The foothold traditionally cut into the ice from which the person who throws the rock pushes off for delivery.
6. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) A mattock or a miner's pickaxe.
7. (countable, informal, uncountable) An improvised device or solution to a problem.
8. (countable, slang, uncountable) An expedient, temporary solution, such as a small patch or change to code, meant to be replaced with a more elegant solution at a later date; a workaround.
9. (countable, dated, slang, uncountable) A computer programmer who makes quick but inelegant changes to computer code to solve problems or add features.
10. (countable, dated, slang, uncountable) A computer programmer, particularly a veteran or someone not immediately expected to be capable of programming.
11. (countable, slang, uncountable) An interesting technical achievement, particularly in computer programming.
12. (colloquial, countable, uncountable) A trick, shortcut, skill, or novel method to increase productivity, efficiency, or ease.
13. (countable, slang, uncountable) The illegal accessing of a computer network.
14. (countable, slang, uncountable) A video game or any computer software that has been altered from its original state.
15. (countable, uncountable) A practical joke that showcases cleverness and creativity.
16. (countable, slang, uncountable) Time check, as for example upon synchronization of wristwatches.
17. (countable, uncountable) The act of striking an opponent with one's hockey stick, typically on the leg but occasionally and more seriously on the back, arm, head, etc.
18. (countable, uncountable) A swing of the bat at a pitched ball by the batter, particularly a choppy, ungraceful one that misses the ball such as at a fastball.
19. (countable, uncountable) A kick on the shins in football of any type.
20. (slang, uncountable) Confinement of an officer to their stateroom as a punishment.
21. (countable, slang, uncountable) An airplane of poor quality or in poor condition.

Noun

1. A board upon which the falcon's food is placed; used by extension for the state of partial freedom in which they are kept before being trained.
2. A food-rack for cattle.
3. A rack used to dry something, such as bricks, fish, or cheese.
4. A grating in a mill race.

Noun

1. A horse for hire, especially one which is old and tired.
2. A person, often a journalist, hired to do routine work.
3. (derogatory) Someone who is available for hire; hireling, mercenary.
4. (slang) The driver of a taxicab (hackney cab).
5. (Canada, US, colloquial) A vehicle let for hire; originally, a hackney cab, now typically a taxicab.
6. A hearse.
7. (derogatory) An untalented writer.
8. (derogatory) One who is professionally successful despite producing mediocre work. (Usually applied to persons in a creative field.)
9. (derogatory) A talented writer-for-hire, paid to put others' thoughts into felicitous language.
10. A political agitator.
11. (UK, derogatory) A person who frequently canvasses for votes, either directly or by appearing to continuously act with the ulterior motive of furthering their political career.
12. (obsolete) A writer who hires himself out for any sort of literary work; an overworked man; a drudge.
13. (obsolete) A procuress.

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A dry cough.
2. (countable, uncountable) A hacking; a catch in speaking; a short, broken cough.

Intj

An onomatopoeia for coughing.

Noun

A small ball usually made of woven cotton or suede and filled with rice, sand or some other filler, for use in hackeysack.

Synonyms

cut

chop

hew

slash

nag

jade

taxicab

taxi

🚕

plug

slice

cab

pick

⛏️

cut off

mangle

cough

cut down

beat

ward-heeler

demolish

literary hack

chop down

hack writer

machine politician

whoop

chop up

hack on

clear

political hack

saw

🪚

pound

💷

scribbler

old horse

mount

pickaxe

shred

lop

mattock

hired

hit

drudge

hacker

hoe

cut up

mince

code

clobber

break up

clear-cut

breakdown

bawd

Translations

hakken

hacken

hacher

tailler

cortar

kappen

houwen

couper

cortar com machado

tajar

abattre

picar

ronzino

carne

🥩

cortar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/hæk/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: hacken

Inherited from Old English: *haccian

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: häkje

Cognate with Western Frisian: hakje

Cognate with Dutch: hakken

Cognate with German: hacken

Cognate with Danish: hakke

Cognate with Swedish: hacka

Cognate with French: hacher

In summary

From Middle English hacken, hakken, from Old English *haccian (“to hack”), from Proto-West Germanic *hakkōn, from Proto-Germanic *hakkōną (“to chop; hoe; hew”), from Proto-Indo-European *keg-, *keng- (“to be sharp; peg; hook; handle”).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian häkje (“to hack”), West Frisian hakje (“to hack”), Dutch hakken (“to chop up; hack”), German hacken (“to chop; hack; hoe”), Danish hakke (“to chop”), Swedish hacka (“to hack; chop”), French hacher (“to chop”).
The computer senses date back to at least 1955 when it initially referred to creative problem solving. By 1963, the negative connotations of “black hat” or malicious hacking had become associated with telephone hacking (cf. phreaking).