hang

1. to fasten or attach (a thing) so that it is supported only from above or at a point near its own top; suspend.

   Synonyms: swing, suspend, sling, dangle

2. to attach or suspend so as to allow free movement:

   to hang a pendulum.

3. to place in position or fasten so as to allow easy or ready movement.
4. to put to death by suspending by the neck from a gallows, gibbet, yardarm, or the like.
5. to suspend (oneself) by the neck until dead:

   He hanged himself from a beam in the attic.

6. to fasten to a cross; crucify.
7. to furnish or decorate with something suspended:

   to hang a room with pictures.

8. to fasten into position; fix at a proper angle:

   to hang a scythe.

9. to fasten or attach (wallpaper, pictures, etc.) to a wall:

   to hang pictures in a room.

10. to suspend (something) in front of anything:

    to hang curtains on a window.

11. Fine Arts.
    1. to exhibit (a painting or group of paintings):

       The gallery hung his paintings in a small corner.

    2. to put the paintings of (an art exhibition) on the wall of a gallery:

       They hung the show that morning.

12. to attach or annex as an addition:

    to hang a rider on a bill.

13. to attach (a door or the like) to its frame by means of hinges.
14. to allow to droop:

    He hung his head in shame.

15. to make (an idea, form, etc.) dependent on a situation, structure, concept, or the like, usually derived from another source:

    He hung the meaning of his puns on the current political scene.

    Synonyms: rest, predicate, base

16. (of a juror) to keep (a jury) from rendering a verdict by refusing to agree with the others.
17. Digital Technology. freeze ( def 28 ):

    If a critical error hangs your operating system, you will need to reboot the computer.

18. Informal. to cause (a nickname, epithet, etc.) to become associated with a person:

    Friends hung that nickname on him.

19. Slang. to hit with (a fist, blow, punch, etc.):

    He hung a left on his opponent's jaw.

20. Baseball. to throw (a pitch) so that it fails to break, as a curve.
21. Nautical. to steady (a boat) in one place against a wind or current by thrusting a pole or the like into the bottom under the boat and allowing the wind or current to push the boat side-on against the pole.
22. (used in mild curses and emphatic expressions, often as a euphemism for damn ):

    I'll be hanged if I do. Hang it all!

1. to be suspended; dangle.
2. to swing freely, as on a hinge.
3. to incline downward, jut out, or lean over or forward:

   The tree hung over the edge of the lake.

4. to be suspended by the neck, as from a gallows, and suffer death in this way.
5. to be crucified.
6. to droop or sag:

   After the drastic weight loss, his skin seemed to hang from his frame.

7. to fit or drape in graceful lines:

   That coat hangs well in back.

8. to be conditioned or contingent; be dependent:

   His future hangs on the outcome of their discussion.

   Synonyms: rest, rely, hinge, depend

9. to be doubtful or undecided; waver or hesitate:

   He hung between staying and going.

10. to remain unfinished or undecided; be delayed:

    Let that matter hang until our next meeting.

11. to linger, remain, or persist:

    He hung by her side, unwilling to leave.

12. to float or hover in the air:

    Fog hung over the city.

    Synonyms: waft, hover, float, drift

    Antonyms: sink, settle

13. to be oppressive, burdensome, or tedious:

    guilt that hangs on one's conscience.

14. to remain in attention or consideration (often followed by on or upon ):

    They hung on his every word.

15. Digital Technology. freeze ( def 13 ):

    That program hangs during launch, so I’ve never been able to use it.

16. Fine Arts.
    1. to be exhibited:

       His works hang in most major museums.

    2. to have one's works on display:

       Rembrandt hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

17. Informal. to spend time somewhere or with someone; hang out. hangout.

1. the way in which a thing hangs.
2. Informal. the precise manner of doing, using, etc., something; knack:

   to get the hang of a tool.

3. Informal. meaning or thought:

   to get the hang of a subject.

4. Digital Technology. freeze ( def 38 ).
5. Nautical.
   1. loss of way due to adverse wind or current.
   2. a rake, as of a mast.
6. the least degree of care, concern, etc. (used in mild curses and emphatic expressions as a euphemism for damn ):

   He doesn't give a hang about those things.

verb phrase

1. 1. to remain to be settled; be postponed:

      They will probably let the final decision hang over until next year.

   2. to be imminent or foreboding; threaten:

      Economic ruin hangs over the town.

2. Informal.
   1. to spend time in a certain place or in certain company:

      He hangs around with an older crowd.

   2. to linger about; loiter:

      They had stopped working and were just hanging around to talk.

3. 1. to suspend by placing on a hook, peg, or hanger.
   2. to cause or encounter delay; suspend or slow the progress of:

      The accident hung up the traffic for several hours.

   3. to break a telephone connection, as by replacing the receiver on the hook:

      She received an anonymous call, but the party hung up when she threatened to call the police.

   4. to cause a hang-up or hang-ups in:

      The experience hung her up for years.

4. hangout.
5. 1. to hold fast; cling to.
   2. to continue with effort; persevere:

      If you can hang on for a month longer, you will be eligible for the bonus.

   3. to be sustained to the point of danger, tedium, etc.:

      coughs that hang on for months.

   4. to keep a telephone line open:

      Hang on, I'll see if she's here.

   5. to wait briefly; keep calm.
6. Slang. to persevere: Also hang in there.

   She has managed to hang in despite years of bad luck.

7. 1. to be reluctant to proceed or move forward:

      The older pupils went straight to the podium, but the younger ones hung back out of shyness.

   2. to refrain from taking action; hesitate:

      A forward pass would have been the best call, but the quarterback hung back because his last pass had been intercepted.