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hack

Pronunciation: /hæk/

The English word “hack” has 20 meanings listed here.

verb

  1. 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. To work with something on an intimately technical level.
  6. To apply a trick, shortcut, skill, or novel method to something to increase productivity, efficiency or ease.
  7. To hack into; to gain unauthorized access to (a computer system, e.g., a website, or network) by manipulating code.
  8. To gain unauthorized access to a computer or online account belonging to (a person or organisation).
  9. 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. To strike lightly as part of tapotement massage.

noun

  1. A tool for chopping.
  2. A hacking blow.
  3. A gouge or notch made by such a blow.
  4. A try, an attempt.
  5. The foothold traditionally cut into the ice from which the person who throws the rock pushes off for delivery.

Etymology

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…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.