hook /hŭk/

1. An object bent so that it can catch or hold something
2. A sharply bent line
3. A snare, trap, attraction, etc
4. An advantageous hold
5. A curved instrument for cutting grain, branches, etc
6. A spit of land with a hooked end
7. A boxer's swinging blow made with the elbow bent
8. The curve of a ball in flight (sport)
9. An inadvertent stroke causing the ball to move in the air from right to left (for a right-handed player) or from left to right (for a left-handed player) (golf)
10. An attacking stroke played with a horizontal bat sending the ball from shoulder height or above onto the leg-side behind the wicket (cricket)
11. An act of hooking
12. In pop music, a catchy phrase
13. A twist or interesting point in a story (slang)
14. An excuse or pretext (slang)

1. To catch, fasten, or hold with or as if with a hook
2. To form into a hook
3. To make with a hook
4. To make (a hooked rug) by drawing yarn through a prepared backing with a hooked tool
5. To ensnare, trap
6. To attract
7. To hit (the ball) so that it inadvertently moves in the air from right to left (for a right-handed player), or from left to right (for a left-handed player) (golf)
8. To hit (the ball) with a horizontal bat from shoulder height or above onto the leg-side behind the wicket (cricket)
9. To punch with a swinging blow, with the elbow bent
10. To obtain possession of (the ball) in the scrum by using the foot to kick it backwards (rugby)

1. To bend
2. To be curved
3. To pull abruptly
4. To act as hooker (rugby)
5. (of a ball) to move in the air from right to left (for a right-handed player), or from left to right (for a left-handed player) (golf)

hooked /hŭkt/ adjective

1. Curved like a hook
2. Physically dependent (on drugs)
3. (with on or by) addicted (to a drug, activity or indulgence)
4. Enthralled

hookˈedness noun

hookˈer noun

1. Someone who hooks
2. The forward in the front row whose task it is to hook the ball (rugby)
3. A prostitute (informal)

hookˈy adjective

hookˈ-climber noun

A climbing plant that clings to its support by means of hooks

hookˈ-nosed adjective

hookˈ-pin noun

An iron pin with a hooked head used for pinning the frame of a floor or roof together

hook shot noun (basketball)

A shot made by a player side-on to the basket by curving up the farther-away arm

hookˈ-tip noun

A moth with forewings that have hooked ends

hookˈ-up noun

1. A connection
2. A temporary linking up of separate broadcasting stations for a special transmission

hookˈworm noun

1. A parasitic nematode with hooks in the mouth
2. The disease it causes, ankylostomiasis or miner's anaemia

by hook or by crook

By one method or another

hook and eye

A contrivance for fastening garments by means of a hook that catches in a loop or eye

hook into (informal)

To form a connection or association with

hook it (slang)

To decamp, make off

hook, line and sinker

Complete or completely

hook up

1. To fasten or be fastened with a hook or hooks
2. To connect or be connected electronically
3. To meet, esp by arrangement (informal)

off the hook

1. Ready-made
2. Out of difficulty or trouble
3. (of a telephone handset) not on its rest, so that incoming calls cannot be received

off the hooks

1. Out of gear
2. Superseded
3. Dead

on one's own hook

On one's own responsibility, initiative or account

• polychlorinated
• polychlorinated biphenyl
• polychloroprene
• polychrest
• polychrests
• polychroic
• polychroism
• polychroisms
• polychromatic
• polychrome
• polychromes
• polychromic
• polychromies
• polychromy
• polyclinic
• polyclinics
• polyclonal
• polyconic
• polycotton
• polycotyledon
• polycotyledonous
• polycotyledons
• polycrotic
• polycrotism
• polycrotisms