hook  (hŏŏk) 
n. A curved or sharply bent device, usually of metal, used to catch, drag, suspend, or fasten something else. A fishhook. A curved or barbed plant or animal part. A short angled or curved line on a letter. A sickle. A sharp bend or curve, as in a river. A point or spit of land with a sharply curved end. A means of attracting interest or attention; an enticement: a sales hook. Music A catchy motif or refrain: "sugary hard rock melodies [and] ear candy hooks" (Boston Globe). A short swinging blow in boxing delivered with a crooked arm. The course of a ball that curves in a direction away from the dominant hand of the player propelling it, as to the left of a right-handed player. A stroke that sends a ball on such a course. A ball propelled on such a course. In surfing, the lip of a breaking wave.
Something shaped like a hook, especially: A curved or barbed plant or animal part. A short angled or curved line on a letter. A sickle. A sharp bend or curve, as in a river. A point or spit of land with a sharply curved end. A means of attracting interest or attention; an enticement: a sales hook. Music A catchy motif or refrain: "sugary hard rock melodies [and] ear candy hooks" (Boston Globe). A short swinging blow in boxing delivered with a crooked arm. The course of a ball that curves in a direction away from the dominant hand of the player propelling it, as to the left of a right-handed player. A stroke that sends a ball on such a course. A ball propelled on such a course. In surfing, the lip of a breaking wave.
A sharp bend or curve, as in a river. A point or spit of land with a sharply curved end. A means of attracting interest or attention; an enticement: a sales hook. Music A catchy motif or refrain: "sugary hard rock melodies [and] ear candy hooks" (Boston Globe). A short swinging blow in boxing delivered with a crooked arm. The course of a ball that curves in a direction away from the dominant hand of the player propelling it, as to the left of a right-handed player. A stroke that sends a ball on such a course. A ball propelled on such a course. In surfing, the lip of a breaking wave.
A means of catching or ensnaring; a trap. Slang A means of attracting interest or attention; an enticement: a sales hook. Music A catchy motif or refrain: "sugary hard rock melodies [and] ear candy hooks" (Boston Globe). A short swinging blow in boxing delivered with a crooked arm. The course of a ball that curves in a direction away from the dominant hand of the player propelling it, as to the left of a right-handed player. A stroke that sends a ball on such a course. A ball propelled on such a course. In surfing, the lip of a breaking wave.
Sports A short swinging blow in boxing delivered with a crooked arm. The course of a ball that curves in a direction away from the dominant hand of the player propelling it, as to the left of a right-handed player. A stroke that sends a ball on such a course. A ball propelled on such a course. In surfing, the lip of a breaking wave.
Baseball A curve ball. Basketball A hook shot.
v.
hooked, hook·ing, hooks
v.
tr.
To catch, suspend, or connect with a hook. Informal To snare. Slang To steal; snatch. See Synonyms at steal. To take strong hold of; captivate: a novel that hooked me on the very first page. To cause to become addicted. To hit with a hook in boxing. To hit (a golf ball) in a hook.
To fasten by or as if by a hook. To pierce or gore with or as if with a hook. Slang To take strong hold of; captivate: a novel that hooked me on the very first page. To cause to become addicted. To hit with a hook in boxing. To hit (a golf ball) in a hook.
To make (a rug) by looping yarn through canvas with a type of hook. Sports To hit with a hook in boxing. To hit (a golf ball) in a hook.
Baseball To pitch (a ball) with a curve. Basketball To shoot (a ball) in a hook shot. Sports To impede the progress of (an opponent in ice hockey) by holding or restraining the player with one's stick, in violation of the rules.
v.
intr.
To bend like a hook. To fasten by means of a hook or a hook and eye. Slang To work as a prostitute.
Phrasal Verb(s):
hook upTo assemble or wire (a mechanism). To connect a mechanism and a source of power. Slang To meet or associate: We agreed to hook up after class. He hooked up with the wrong crowd. To become romantically or sexually involved with someone. To marry or get married.
Idiom(s):
by hook or by crookBy whatever means possible, fair or unfair.
Idiom(s):
get the hook Slang To be unceremoniously dismissed or terminated.
Idiom(s):
hook, line, and sinker Informal Without reservation; completely: swallowed the excuse hook, line, and sinker.
Idiom(s):
off the hook Informal Freed, as from blame or a vexatious obligation: let me off the hook with a mild reprimand.
Idiom(s):
on (one's) own hookBy one's own efforts.
[Middle English hok, from Old English hōc; see keg- in Indo-European roots.] |
