hooks

hook

H0269900 (ho͝ok)n.1. a. A curved or sharply bent device, usually of metal, used to catch, drag, suspend, or fasten something else.b. A fishhook.2. Something shaped like a hook, especially:a. A curved or barbed plant or animal part.b. A short angled or curved line on a letter.c. A sickle.3. a. A sharp bend or curve, as in a river.b. A point or spit of land with a sharply curved end.4. A means of catching or ensnaring; a trap.5. Slang a. A means of attracting interest or attention; an enticement: a sales hook.b. Music A catchy motif or refrain: "sugary hard rock melodies [and] ear candy hooks" (Boston Globe).6. Sports a. A short swinging blow in boxing delivered with a crooked arm.b. 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.c. A stroke that sends a ball on such a course.d. A ball propelled on such a course.e. 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. a. To catch, suspend, or connect with a hook.b. Informal To snare.c. Slang To steal; snatch.2. To fasten by a hook.3. To pierce or gore with a hook.4. Slang a. To take strong hold of; captivate: a novel that hooked me on the very first page.b. To cause to become addicted.5. To make (a rug) by looping yarn through canvas with a type of hook.6. Sports a. To hit with a hook in boxing.b. 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 up1. To assemble or wire (a mechanism).2. To connect a mechanism and a source of power.3. Slang a. To meet or associate: We agreed to hook up after class. He hooked up with the wrong crowd.b. To become sexually involved with someone, especially casually.c. To marry or get married.Idioms: by hook or by crook By whatever means possible, fair or unfair. get the hook Slang To be unceremoniously dismissed or terminated. hook, line, and sinker Informal Without reservation; completely: swallowed the excuse hook, line, and sinker. off the hook Informal Freed, as from blame or a vexatious obligation: let me off the hook with a mild reprimand. on (one's) own hook By one's own efforts.

---

[Middle English hok, from Old English hōc; see keg- in Indo-European roots.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

hooks - large strong hand (as of a fighter); "wait till I get my hooks on him"maulers, meat hookshand, manus, mitt, paw - the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb; "he had the hands of a surgeon"; "he extended his mitt"