Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense hacks, present participle hacking, past tense, past participle hacked
1. verb
If you hack something or hack at it, you cut it with strong, rough strokes using a sharp tool such as an axe or knife.
An armed gang barged onto the train and began hacking and shooting anyone in sight. [VERB noun]
Some were hacked to death with machetes. [beVERB-ed preposition/adverb]
Matthew desperately hacked through the leather. [VERB preposition]
Hack away means the same as hack.
He started to hack away at the tree bark. [VPat n]
2. verb
If you hack your way through an area such as a jungle or hack a path through it, you move forward, cutting back the trees or plants that are in your way.
We undertook the task of hacking our way through the jungle. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
3. verb
If you hackat or hack something which is too large, too long, or too expensive, you reduce its size, length, or cost by cutting out or getting rid of large parts of it.
He hacked away at the story, eliminating one character entirely. [VERB adverb/preposition]
[Also VERB noun]
4. countable noun
If you refer to a professional writer, such as a journalist, as a hack, you disapprove of them because they write for money without worrying very much about the quality of their writing.
[disapproval]
...tabloid hacks, always eager to find victims in order to sell newspapers.
...a hack writer of cheap romances.
Synonyms: reporter, writer, correspondent, journalist More Synonyms of hack
5. countable noun
If you refer to a politician as a hack, you disapprove of them because they are too loyal to their party and perhaps do not deserve the position they have.
[disapproval]
Far too many party hacks from the old days still hold influential jobs.
Synonyms: yes-man, lackey, toady, flunky More Synonyms of hack
6. verb
If someone hacks into a computer system, they break into the system, especially in order to get secret information.
The saboteurs had demanded money in return for revealing how they hacked into thesystems. [VERB + into]
hackinguncountable noun
...the common and often illegal art of computer hacking.
7. verb [oft cont]
If you hack or go hacking, you go out for a ride on horseback.
[British]
The children could be seen hacking across the hillside on their ponies. [VERB preposition/adverb]
hackinguncountable noun
Hacking is a major activity in the horse world.
8. countable noun
A hack is a ride on horseback.
[British]
9. countable noun
A hack is a horse which people can hire from a stable to go out riding.
10.
See can't hack it
11. See also hacking
Phrasal verbs:
See hack away
See hack off
More Synonyms of hack
hack in British English1
(hæk)
verb
1. (whenintr, usually foll by at or away)
to cut or chop (at) irregularly, roughly, or violently
2.
to cut and clear (a way, path, etc), as through undergrowth
3.
(in sport, esp rugby) to foul (an opposing player) by kicking or striking his or her shins
4. basketball
to commit the foul of striking (an opposing player) on the arm
5. (intransitive)
to cough in short dry spasmodic bursts
6. (transitive)
to reduce or cut (a story, article, etc) in a damaging way
7.
to manipulate a computer program skilfully, esp, to gain unauthorized access to another computer system
8. (transitive) slang
to tolerate; cope with
I joined the army but I couldn't hack it
9. hack to bits
noun
10.
a cut, chop, notch, or gash, esp as made by a knife or axe
11.
any tool used for shallow digging, such as a mattock or pick
12.
a chopping blow
13.
a dry spasmodic cough
14.
a kick on the shins, as in rugby
15.
a wound from a sharp kick
16. informal
an adjustment to a computer program
17. informal
any simple procedure performed to resolve a problem
Word origin
Old English haccian; related to Old Frisian hackia, Middle High German hacken
hack in British English2
(hæk)
noun
1.
a horse kept for riding or (more rarely) for driving
2.
an old, ill-bred, or overworked horse
3.
a horse kept for hire
4. British
a country ride on horseback
5.
a drudge
6.
a person who produces mediocre literary or journalistic work
7. Also called: hackney US
a coach or carriage that is for hire
8. Also called: hackie US informal
a.
a cab driver
b.
a taxi
verb
9. British
to ride (a horse) cross-country for pleasure
10. (transitive)
to let (a horse) out for hire
11. (transitive) informal
to write (an article) as or in the manner of a hack
12. (intransitive) US informal
to drive a taxi
adjective
13. (prenominal)
banal, mediocre, or unoriginal
hack writing
Word origin
C17: short for hackney
hack in British English3
(hæk)
noun
1.
a rack used for fodder for livestock
2.
a board on which meat is placed for a hawk
3.
a pile or row of unfired bricks stacked to dry
verb(transitive)
4.
to place (fodder) in a hack
5.
to place (bricks) in a hack
Word origin
C16: variant of hatch2
hack in American English1
(hæk)
verb transitive
1.
a.
to chop or cut crudely, roughly, or irregularly, as with a hatchet
b.
to shape, trim, damage, etc. with or as with rough, sweeping strokes
2.
to break up (land) as with a hoe or mattock
3. US, Slang
to deal with or carry out successfully
4. US, Slang
to annoy or irritate
usually with off
5. US, Basketball
to foul by striking the arm of (an opponent who has the ball) with the hand or arm
6. Rugby
to foul by kicking (an opponent) on the shins
verb intransitive
7.
to make rough or irregular cuts
8.
to give harsh, dry coughs
9. US, Basketball
to hack an opponent
noun
10.
a tool for cutting or hacking, as an ax, hoe, mattock, etc.
11.
a slash, gash, or notch made by a sharp implement
12.
a hacking blow
13.
a harsh, dry cough
Idioms:
hack around
hack it
Word origin
ME hacken < OE haccian, akin to Ger hacken < IE base *keg-, peg, hook > hook, hatchel
hack in American English2
(hæk)
noun
1.
a.
a horse for hire
b.
a horse for all sorts of work
c.
a saddle horse
d.
an old, worn-out horse
2.
a person hired to do routine, often dull, writing; literary drudge
3. US
a worker for a political party, usually holding office through patronage and serving devotedly and unquestioningly
4.
a carriage or coach for hire
5. Informal
a.
a taxicab
b.
a hackman or cabdriver
verb transitive
6.
to employ as a hack
7.
to hire out (a horse, etc.)
8.
to wear out or make stale by constant use
verb intransitive
9. British
to jog along on a horse
10. US, Informal
to drive a taxicab
11. Computing
to be a hacker (sense 3)
adjective
12.
employed as a hack
a hack writer
13.
done by a hack
a hack job
14.
stale; trite; hackneyed
hack writing
Word origin
contr. < hackney
hack in American English3
(hæk)
noun
1.
a grating or rack for drying cheese or fish, holding food for cattle, etc.
verb transitive
2.
to place on a hack for drying
Word origin
orig., board on which a falcon's meat was put, var. of hatch2
Word lists with
hack
Types of horse, tool
In other languages
hack
British English: hack /hæk/ VERB
If you hack something or hack at it, you cut it with strong, rough strokes using a sharp tool such as an axe or knife.
He hacked a few branches from the tree.
American English: hack
Arabic: يُقَطِّع كمبيوتر
Brazilian Portuguese: talhar
Chinese: 砍
Croatian: sjeći
Czech: rozsekat
Danish: hakke
Dutch: hakken
European Spanish: piratear
Finnish: silpoa
French: tailler
German: zerhacken
Greek: πελεκώ
Italian: fare pirateria informatica
Japanese: たたき切る
Korean: 마구 자르다
Norwegian: hacke
Polish: porąbać
European Portuguese: talhar
Romanian: a ciopârți
Russian: рубить
Latin American Spanish: piratear
Swedish: hacka
Thai: ฟัน
Turkish: doğramak
Ukrainian: рубати
Vietnamese: chặt mạnh
All related terms of 'hack'
hack it
to carry out or manage something successfully
fly hack
a kick at the ball on the ground made by a running player
hack away
hack off
If you hack something off , you cut it off with strong, rough strokes using a sharp tool such as an axe or knife .
hack around
to engage in aimless activity; spend time idly
hack hammer
an adzelike tool , used for dressing stone
hack writer
a writer of undistinguished literary work produced to order
hack reporter
a horse kept for riding or (more rarely ) for driving
hack writing
undistinguished literary work produced to order
hack to bits
to damage severely
can't hack it
If you say that someone can't hack it or couldn't hack it , you mean that they do not or did not have the qualities needed to do a task or cope with a situation .
hacksaw
A hacksaw is a small saw used for cutting metal.
Chinese translation of 'hack'
hack
(hæk)
vt, vi
砍 (kǎn)
n(c)
(pej, = writer) 雇佣(傭)文人 (gùyōng wénrén)
to hack (away) at sth with a knife用刀乱(亂)砍某物 (yòng dāo luànkǎn mǒuwù)
to hack (one's way/a path) through the jungle从(從)丛(叢)林中开(開)出条(條)路来(來) (cóng cónglín zhōng kāichū tiáo lù lái)
to hack sb to death乱(亂)刀砍死某人 (luàndāo kǎnsǐ mǒurén)
to hack sb/sth to pieces把某人/某物砍碎 (bǎ mǒurén/mǒuwù kǎnsuì)
he can't hack it as a singer (inf) 他没(沒)本事做歌手 (tā méi běnshì zuò gēshǒu)