HIJACK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hijack mean? 

• HIJACK (noun)
  The noun HIJACK has 1 sense:

1. seizure of a vehicle in transit either to rob it or divert it to an alternate destination

  Familiarity information: HIJACK used as a noun is very rare.

• HIJACK (verb)
  The verb HIJACK has 2 senses:

1. take arbitrarily or by force

2. seize control of

  Familiarity information: HIJACK used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HIJACK (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Seizure of a vehicle in transit either to rob it or divert it to an alternate destination

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

highjack; hijack

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

crime; criminal offence; criminal offense; law-breaking ((criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act)

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

carjacking (the violent theft of an occupied car)

Derivation:

hijack (take arbitrarily or by force)

• HIJACK (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they hijack    ... he / she / it hijacks   
Past simple: hijacked   
Past participle: hijacked   
-ing form: hijacking   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Take arbitrarily or by force

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

commandeer; highjack; hijack; pirate

Context example:

The Cubans commandeered the plane and flew it to Miami

Hypernyms (to "hijack" is one way to...):

seize (take or capture by force)

Domain category:

crime; criminal offence; criminal offense; law-breaking ((criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "hijack"):

skyjack (subject an aircraft to air piracy)

carjack (take someone's car from him by force, usually with the intention of stealing it)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

hijack (seizure of a vehicle in transit either to rob it or divert it to an alternate destination)

hijacker (a holdup man who stops a vehicle and steals from it)

hijacker (someone who uses force to take over a vehicle (especially an airplane) in order to reach an alternative destination)

hijacking (robbery of a traveller or vehicle in transit or seizing control of a vehicle by the use of force)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Seize control of

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Context example:

they hijacked the judicial process

Hypernyms (to "hijack" is one way to...):

arrogate; assume; seize; take over; usurp (seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

In addition, the findings revealed the glioblastoma cells hijacked control over the blood flow by taking it away from the astrocytes.

(Brain tumor invasion along blood vessels may lead to new cancer treatments, NIH)

After a few days, the parasites leave the liver and hijack red blood cells, where they continue to multiply, spreading around the body and causing symptoms, including potentially life-threatening complications.

(Toothpaste ingredient may help fight drug-resistant malaria, University of Cambridge)

Invading glioblastoma cells may hijack cerebral blood vessels during early stages of disease progression and damage the brain’s protective barrier, a study in mice indicates.

(Brain tumor invasion along blood vessels may lead to new cancer treatments, NIH)