hang (hăng)

v., hung (hŭng), hang·ing, hangs.

v.tr.

1. To fasten from above with no support from below; suspend.
2. To suspend or fasten so as to allow free movement at or about the point of suspension: hang a door.
3. past tense and past participle, hanged (hăngd).
   1. To execute by suspending by the neck: They hanged the prisoner at dawn.
   2. Used to express exasperation or disgust: I'll be hanged! Hang it all!
4. To fix or attach at an appropriate angle: hang a scythe to its handle.
5. To alter the hem of (a garment) so as to fall evenly at a specified height.
6. To furnish, decorate, or appoint by suspending objects around or about: hang a room with curtains.
7. To hold or incline downward; let droop: hang one's head in sorrow.
8. Informal. To make (a turn in a specific direction): At the next intersection, hang a right.
9. 1. To attach to a wall: hang wallpaper.
   2. To display, as in a gallery or office: hung four new paintings in the foyer.
10. Informal. To give (a nickname or label) to someone.
11. To deadlock (a jury) by failing to render a unanimous verdict.
12. Baseball. To throw (a pitch) in such a manner as to fail to break.
13. Computer Science. To cause (a computer system) to halt so that input devices, such as the keyboard or the mouse, do not function.

v.intr.

1. To be attached from above with no support from below.
2. To die as a result of hanging.
3. To remain suspended or poised over a place or an object; hover: rain clouds hanging low over the corn fields.
4. To attach oneself as a dependent or an impediment; cling.
5. To incline downward; droop.
6. To depend: Everything hangs on the committee's decision.
7. To pay strict attention: a student who hangs on the professor's every word.
8. To remain unresolved or uncertain: His future hung in the balance.
9. To fit the body in loose lines: a dress that hangs well.
10. To be on display, as in a gallery.
11. Baseball. To fail to break or move in the intended way, as a curve ball.
12. To be imminent; loom: the threat hanging over us.
13. To be or become burdensome. Time hung heavy on my hands.
14. Computer Science. To be halted, as a computer system, so that input devices do not function: The power surge caused my computer to hang, so I had to reboot it.
15. Slang.
    1. To spend one's free time in a certain place. Often used with around or out: liked to hang out at the pool hall.
    2. To pass time idly; loiter. Often used with around or out: spent the evening hanging at home; hung out for an hour before going to the play.
    3. To keep company; see socially. Often used with around or out: hangs around with kids from a different school.

n.

1. The way in which something hangs.
2. A downward inclination or slope.
3. Particular meaning or significance.
4. Informal. The proper method for doing, using, or handling something: finally got the hang of it.
5. A suspension of motion; a slackening.

phrasal verbs:

hang back

1. To be averse; hold back.

hang in Informal.

1. To persevere: decided to hang in despite his illness.

hang off

1. To hold back; be averse.

hang on

1. To cling tightly to something.
2. To continue persistently; persevere.
3. To keep a telephone connection open.
4. To wait for a short period of time.

hang together

1. To stand united; stick together: "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately" (Benjamin Franklin).
2. To constitute a coherent totality: diverse plot lines that did not hang together.

hang up

1. To suspend on a hook or hanger.
2. 1. To replace (a telephone receiver) on its base or cradle.
   2. To end a telephone conversation.
3. 1. To delay or impede; hinder: Budget problems hung up the project for months.
   2. To become halted or snagged: The fishing line hung up on a rock.
   3. Informal. To have or cause to have emotional difficulties or inhibitions.

idioms:

give (or care) a hang

1. To be concerned or anxious: I don't give a hang what you do.

hang fire

1. To delay: "They are people who hung fire even through the bloody days of the Hungarian Revolution" (Mark Muro).
2. To be slow in firing, as a gun.

hang in there Informal.

1. To persevere despite difficulties; persist: She hung in there despite pressure to resign.

hang it up Informal.

1. To give up; quit.

hang loose Slang.

1. To stay calm or relaxed.

hang (one's) hat

1. To settle oneself; take up residence: hung my hat in Chicago.

hang on to

1. To hold firmly; keep fast: Hang on to your money.

hang tough Informal.

1. To remain firmly resolved: "We are going to hang tough on this" (Donald T. Regan).

let it all hang out Slang.

1. To be completely relaxed.
2. To be completely candid.

[Middle English hongen, from Old English hangian, to be suspended, and from hōn, to hang.]

hangable hang'a·ble adj.

USAGE NOTE   Hanged, as a past tense and a past participle of hang, is used in the sense of "to put to death by hanging," as in Frontier courts hanged many a prisoner after a summary trial. A majority of the Usage Panel objects to hung used in this sense. In all other senses of the word, hung is the preferred form as past tense and past participle, as in I hung my child's picture above my desk.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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