hook

[[t]hʊk[/t]]

n.

1) a curved or angular piece of metal or other hard substance for catching, pulling, holding, or suspending something

2) a fishhook

3) anything that catches; snare; trap

4) cvb something that attracts attention or entices:

a sales hook[/ex]

5) something, as a mark or symbol, having a sharp curve, bend, or angle at one end

6) a sharp curve or angle in the length or course of anything

7) geo a curved spit of land

8) bot zool. a recurved and pointed organ or appendage of an animal or plant

9) clo a small curved catch inserted into a loop to form a clothes fastener

10) clo a buttonhook

11) spo

a) the path described by a ball, as in baseball, bowling, or golf, that curves in a direction opposite to the throwing hand or to the side of the ball from which it was struck

b) a ball describing such a path

12) spo (in boxing) a short circular punch delivered with the elbow bent

13) sts hooks, Slang. hands or fingers

14) to seize, fasten, or catch hold of with or as if with a hook

15) spo to catch (fish) with a fishhook

16) sts Slang. to steal or seize by stealth

17) inf Informal. to catch or trick by artifice; snare

18) (of a bull or other horned animal) to catch on the horns or attack with the horns

19) clo to make (a rug, cushion, etc.) by drawing loops of yarn through cloth with or as if with a hook

20) spo to hit or throw (a ball) so that a hook results

21) to make hook-shaped; crook

22) to become attached or fastened by or as if by a hook

23) to curve or bend like a hook

24) spo (of a ball) to describe a hook in course

25) phv hook up

a) to fasten with a hook or hooks

b) to assemble or connect, as components of a machine

c) to connect to a central source, as of power or water

d) inf Informal. to join or become associated with

•

- by hook or (by) crook get hook, line, and sinker off the hook on one's own hook

Etymology: bef. 900; ME hoke, OE hōc, c. OFris, MD hōk hook, angle; akin to OHG hāko hook, ON haki