hook (hʊk)
n.

1. 1. A curved or sharply bent device, usually of metal, used to catch, drag, suspend, or fasten something else.
   2. A fishhook.
2. Something shaped like a hook, especially:
   1. A curved or barbed plant or animal part.
   2. A short angled or curved line on a letter.
   3. A sickle.
3. 1. A sharp bend or curve, as in a river.
   2. A point or spit of land with a sharply curved end.
4. A means of catching or ensnaring; a trap.
5. Slang.
   1. A means of attracting interest or attention; an enticement: a sales hook.
   2. Music. A catchy motif or refrain: "sugary hard rock melodies [and] ear candy hooks" (Boston Globe).
6. Sports.
   1. A short swinging blow in boxing delivered with a crooked arm.
   2. 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.
   3. A stroke that sends a ball on such a course.
   4. A ball propelled on such a course.
   5. In surfing, the lip of a breaking wave.
7. Baseball. A curve ball.
8. Basketball. A hook shot.

v., hooked, hook·ing, hooks.

v.tr.

1. 1. To catch, suspend, or connect with a hook.
   2. Informal. To snare.
   3. Slang. To steal; snatch. See synonyms at steal.
2. To fasten by or as if by a hook.
3. To pierce or gore with or as if with a hook.
4. Slang.
   1. To take strong hold of; captivate: a novel that hooked me on the very first page.
   2. To cause to become addicted.
5. To make (a rug) by looping yarn through canvas with a type of hook.
6. Sports.
   1. To hit with a hook in boxing.
   2. To hit (a golf ball) in a hook.
7. Baseball. To pitch (a ball) with a curve.
8. Basketball. To shoot (a ball) in a hook shot.
9. 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.

1. To bend like a hook.
2. To fasten by means of a hook or a hook and eye.
3. Slang. To work as a prostitute.

phrasal verb:

hook up

1. To assemble or wire (a mechanism).
2. To connect a mechanism and a source of power.
3. Slang.
   1. To meet or associate: We agreed to hook up after class. He hooked up with the wrong crowd.
   2. To become romantically or sexually involved with someone.
   3. To marry or get married.

idioms:

by hook or by crook

1. By whatever means possible, fair or unfair.

get the hook Slang.

1. To be unceremoniously dismissed or terminated.

hook, line, and sinker Informal.

1. Without reservation; completely: swallowed the excuse hook, line, and sinker.

off the hook Informal.

1. Freed, as from blame or a vexatious obligation: let me off the hook with a mild reprimand.

on (one's) own hook

1. By one's own efforts.

[Middle English hok, from Old English hōc.]

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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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