HACKER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hacker mean? 

• HACKER (noun)
  The noun HACKER has 3 senses:

1. someone who plays golf poorly

2. a programmer for whom computing is its own reward; may enjoy the challenge of breaking into other computers but does no harm

3. one who works hard at boring tasks

  Familiarity information: HACKER used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HACKER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Someone who plays golf poorly

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("hacker" is a kind of...):

golf player; golfer; linksman (someone who plays the game of golf)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A programmer for whom computing is its own reward; may enjoy the challenge of breaking into other computers but does no harm

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Context example:

true hackers subscribe to a code of ethics and look down upon crackers

Hypernyms ("hacker" is a kind of...):

coder; computer programmer; programmer; software engineer (a person who designs and writes and tests computer programs)

Derivation:

hack (fix a computer program piecemeal until it works)

Sense 3

Meaning:

One who works hard at boring tasks

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

drudge; hack; hacker

Hypernyms ("hacker" is a kind of...):

unskilled person (a person who lacks technical training)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "hacker"):

plodder; slogger (someone who works slowly and monotonously for long hours)

 Context examples 

Be sure to back up computer programs, insert the most up-to-date software in your operating system, and protect the privacy of clients and customers, lest you end up dealing with a hacker. (Uranus, a leader at this new moon, rules computers and software and could easily create mayhem.)

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)