hang

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To be or remain suspended.

   • The lights hung from the ceiling.
2. 2

   To float, as if suspended.

   • The smoke hung in the room.
   • It was a couple of days after the crash, with the smell of burning still hanging in the air from the incinerated wreckage of Coach H, where 31 passengers lost their lives, when I visited the West London site.
3. 3

   To veer in one direction.

   • The jockey claimed that the horse hung towards the outside[…]
4. ›+ 30 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To rebound unexpectedly or unusually slowly, due to backward spin on the ball or…

      To rebound unexpectedly or unusually slowly, due to backward spin on the ball or imperfections of the ground.

   2. 5

      To hold or bear in a suspended or inclined manner or position instead of erect.

      • He hung his head in shame.
   3. 6

      To cause (something) to be suspended, as from a hook, hanger, hinges, or the like.

      • Hang those lights from the ceiling.
      • to hang a door
      • It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
   4. 7

      To kill (someone) by suspension from the neck, usually as a form of execution or suicide.

      • The culprits were hanged from the nearest tree.
   5. 8

      To be executed by suspension by one's neck from a gallows, a tree, or other raised bar,…

      To be executed by suspension by one's neck from a gallows, a tree, or other raised bar, attached by a rope tied into a noose.

      • You will hang for this, my friend.
   6. 9

      (used in maledictions) To damn.

      • Helena That depends on how much of the factory you show me. Domin Oh, hang the factory. Oh, no, no, you shall see everything, Miss Glory. Indeed you shall. Won't you sit down?
      • [H]e suddenly flung down his brush on the floor, said "Bother!" and "Oh blow!" and also "Hang spring-cleaning!" and bolted out of the house without even waiting to put on his coat.
   7. 10

      To loiter

      To loiter; to hang around; to spend time idly.

      • I didn't see anything, officer. I was just hanging.
      • He banned spearfishing wherever he could, started the first eco-moorings in the Caribbean, stopped others from coral- and shell-collecting, and had so much fun 24/7 that some unusually powerful people began to hang with him.
   8. 11

      To exhibit (an object) by hanging.

   9. 12

      To apply (wallpaper or drywall to a wall).

      • Let's hang this cute animal design in the nursery.
   10. 13

       To decorate (something) with hanging objects.

       • Let's hang the nursery with some new wallpaper.
   11. 14

       To remain persistently in one's thoughts.

   12. 15

       To prevent from reaching a decision, especially by refusing to join in a verdict that…

       To prevent from reaching a decision, especially by refusing to join in a verdict that must be unanimous.

       • One obstinate juror can hang a jury.
   13. 16

       To stop responding to manual input devices such as the keyboard and mouse.

       • The computer has hung again. Not even pressing <Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Del> works.
       • When I push this button the program hangs.
   14. 17

       To cause (a program or computer) to stop responding.

       • The program has a bug that can hang the system.
   15. 18

       To cause (a piece) to become vulnerable to capture.

       • If you move there, you'll hang your rook.
   16. 19

       To be vulnerable to capture.

       • In this standard opening position White has to be careful because the pawn on e4 hangs.
   17. 20

       To throw a hittable off-speed pitch.

       • McDougald then singled, and with a 3-2 count on Ellie Howard who was playing first base, Spahn hung a curve ball and Howard hit it over the wire fence in left field for a 4-4 tie.
   18. 21

       To attach or cause to stick (a charge or accusation, etc.).

       • There were no whisperings, even from his opponents, that he was no better than he ought to be. Because, there was nothing wrong on which to hang a charge. As an eloquent orator, he carried with him the firm support of a good name.
       • Papa had wanted to call me Beverly Mary; Mary after the Blessed Virgin. Mama said she wouldn't hang a name like Beverly Mary on a pet skunk.
   19. 22

       The way in which something hangs.

       • This skirt has a nice hang.
   20. 23

       A mass of hanging material.

       • They advanced in a crouch, dropping to their knees every few yards to pass under a hang of rock.
       • “I don't see the hang of so much talky-talky,” broke in Uncle Sam. “We've heard all that can be said about things, […]
   21. 24

       A slackening of motion.

   22. 25

       A sharp or steep declivity or slope.

   23. 26

       An instance of ceasing to respond to input.

       • We sometimes get system hangs.
   24. 27

       A grip, understanding.

       • On the fatal evening I duly made my way to the theatre—a little late, so as to take my seat unobserved. After I had got the general hang I glanced up occasionally until I caught Stephanie's eye […]
   25. 28

       A hangout.

       • My first day was a fun hang, but I didn't really do too much. Me and stupid Bob just hung around the casino looking at box and losing money.
       • So how can you set up a hang within a 90-minute time-frame for yourself? Be clear with your friends about timing from the get-go, so they, too, can decide if it's worth their time to even meet up.
       • He invited us over to his beautiful heritage home in downtown Toronto for a hang.
   26. 29

       A person that someone hangs out with.

       • She might announce something to everyone that makes no sense or tells a story that rambles on and on and makes no point. But for some reason nobody seems to mind. We all just like to listen to The Airhead. She's a fun hang.
       • And maaaaaaaybe Superman would be a good hang, though I suspect that'd be a lot like hanging out with a youth pastor.
   27. 30

       Cheap processed ham (cured pork), often made specially for sandwiches.

   28. 31

       Alternative spelling of Hang (“musical instrument”).

   29. 32

       The smallest amount of concern or consideration

       The smallest amount of concern or consideration; a damn.

       • I don't give a hang.
       • They don't seem to care a hang about the consequences.
   30. 33

       A percussion instrument invented and built by PANArt Hangbau AG, somewhat resembling a…

       A percussion instrument invented and built by PANArt Hangbau AG, somewhat resembling a steelpan, consisting of two metal half shells with tuned notes on the top side that produces a mellow and ethereal sound.

       • Philip plays a Hang drum—a unique instrument that looks a little like two woks welded together.

The neighborhood

• synonymstring up
• synonymkill by hanging
• synonymswing
• synonymtake a ride to Tyburn
• synonymdie by hanging
• synonymlock up