HOOK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hook mean? 

• HOOK (noun)
  The noun HOOK has 8 senses:

1. a catch for locking a door

2. a sharp curve or crook; a shape resembling a hook

3. anything that serves as an enticement

4. a mechanical device that is curved or bent to suspend or hold or pull something

5. a curved or bent implement for suspending or pulling something

6. a golf shot that curves to the left for a right-handed golfer

7. a short swinging punch delivered from the side with the elbow bent

8. a basketball shot made over the head with the hand that is farther from the basket

  Familiarity information: HOOK used as a noun is common.

• HOOK (verb)
  The verb HOOK has 12 senses:

1. fasten with a hook

2. rip off; ask an unreasonable price

3. make a piece of needlework by interlocking and looping thread with a hooked needle

4. hit a ball and put a spin on it so that it travels to the left

5. take by theft

6. make off with belongings of others

7. hit with a hook

8. catch with a hook

9. to cause (someone or oneself) to become dependent (on something, especially a narcotic drug)

10. secure with the foot

11. entice and trap

12. approach with an offer of sexual favors

  Familiarity information: HOOK used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HOOK (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A catch for locking a door

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

catch (a fastener that fastens or locks a door or window)

Derivation:

hook (fasten with a hook)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A sharp curve or crook; a shape resembling a hook

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Synonyms:

crotchet; hook

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

curve; curved shape (the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes)

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

uncus ((biology) any hook-shaped process or part)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Anything that serves as an enticement

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

bait; come-on; hook; lure; sweetener

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

enticement; temptation (something that seduces or has the quality to seduce)

Derivation:

hook (entice and trap)

hook (to cause (someone or oneself) to become dependent (on something, especially a narcotic drug))

Sense 4

Meaning:

A mechanical device that is curved or bent to suspend or hold or pull something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

claw; hook

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

mechanical device (mechanism consisting of a device that works on mechanical principles)

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

anchor; ground tackle (a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving)

pothook (an S-shaped hook to suspend a pot over a fire)

tenterhook (one of a series of hooks used to hold cloth on a tenter)

Holonyms ("hook" is a part of...):

clothes hanger; coat hanger; dress hanger (a hanger that is shaped like a person's shoulders and used to hang garments on)

grapnel; grapple; grappler; grappling hook; grappling iron (a tool consisting of several hooks for grasping and holding; often thrown with a rope)

Derivation:

hook (fasten with a hook)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A curved or bent implement for suspending or pulling something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

implement (instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end)

Meronyms (parts of "hook"):

barb (a subsidiary point facing opposite from the main point that makes an arrowhead or spear hard to remove)

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

boat hook (pole-handled hook used to pull or push boats)

skyhook (a hook that is imagined to be suspended from the sky)

meat hook (a strong pointed hook from which the carcasses of animals are hung)

gig (a cluster of hooks (without barbs) that is drawn through a school of fish to hook their bodies; used when fish are not biting)

gaff (an iron hook with a handle; used for landing large fish)

fishhook (a sharp barbed hook for catching fish)

cup hook (hook (usually on the underside of a shelf) for hanging cups)

crotchet (a small tool or hooklike implement)

buttonhook (a hook for pulling a button through a buttonhole)

Derivation:

hook (catch with a hook)

hook (make a piece of needlework by interlocking and looping thread with a hooked needle)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A golf shot that curves to the left for a right-handed golfer

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

draw; hook; hooking

Context example:

he took lessons to cure his hooking

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

golf shot; golf stroke; swing (the act of swinging a golf club at a golf ball and (usually) hitting it)

Derivation:

hook (hit a ball and put a spin on it so that it travels to the left)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A short swinging punch delivered from the side with the elbow bent

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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

biff; clout; lick; poke; punch; slug ((boxing) a blow with the fist)

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

roundhouse (a hook delivered with an exaggerated swing)

Derivation:

hook (hit with a hook)

Sense 8

Meaning:

A basketball shot made over the head with the hand that is farther from the basket

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

hook; hook shot

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

basketball shot (throwing the basketball toward the hoop)

• HOOK (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Fasten with a hook

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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

fasten; fix; secure (cause to be firmly attached)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Antonym:

unhook (take off a hook)

Also:

hook up (connect or link)

Derivation:

hook (a mechanical device that is curved or bent to suspend or hold or pull something)

hook (a catch for locking a door)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Rip off; ask an unreasonable price

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

fleece; gazump; hook; overcharge; pluck; plume; rob; soak; surcharge

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

cheat; chisel; rip off (deprive somebody of something by deceit)

"Hook" entails doing...:

bill; charge (demand payment)

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

extort; gouge; rack; squeeze; wring (obtain by coercion or intimidation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Make a piece of needlework by interlocking and looping thread with a hooked needle

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

crochet; hook

Context example:

She sat there crocheting all day

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

intertwine; loop (make a loop in)

Verb group:

crochet (create by looping or crocheting)

Domain category:

handicraft (a craft that requires skillful hands)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

hook (a curved or bent implement for suspending or pulling something)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Hit a ball and put a spin on it so that it travels to the left

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

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

hit (cause to move by striking)

Domain category:

golf; golf game (a game played on a large open course with 9 or 18 holes; the object is use as few strokes as possible in playing all the holes)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

hook (a golf shot that curves to the left for a right-handed golfer)

hooker (a golfer whose shots typically curve left (for right-handed golfers))

hooking (a golf shot that curves to the left for a right-handed golfer)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Take by theft

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

cop; glom; hook; knock off; snitch; thieve

Context example:

Someone snitched my wallet!

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

rip; rip off; steal (take without the owner's consent)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Make off with belongings of others

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

abstract; cabbage; filch; hook; lift; nobble; pilfer; pinch; purloin; snarf; sneak; swipe

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

rip; rip off; steal (take without the owner's consent)

Sentence frames:

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

Sentence example:

They hook the goods

Sense 7

Meaning:

Hit with a hook

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

His opponent hooked him badly

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

hit (deal a blow to, either with the hand or with an instrument)

Domain category:

boxing; fisticuffs; pugilism (fighting with the fists)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The fighter managed to hook his opponent

Derivation:

hook (a short swinging punch delivered from the side with the elbow bent)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Catch with a hook

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

hook a fish

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

catch; grab; take hold of (take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of)

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

seize (hook by a pull on the line)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

hook (a curved or bent implement for suspending or pulling something)

Sense 9

Meaning:

To cause (someone or oneself) to become dependent (on something, especially a narcotic drug)

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

addict; hook

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

accustom; habituate (make psychologically or physically used (to something))

"Hook" entails doing...:

habituate; use (take or consume (regularly or habitually))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody PP

Derivation:

hook (anything that serves as an enticement)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Secure with the foot

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context example:

hook the ball

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

play (shoot or hit in a particular manner)

Domain category:

rugby; rugby football; rugger (a form of football played with an oval ball)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 11

Meaning:

Entice and trap

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

hook; snare

Context example:

The car salesman had snared three potential customers

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

entice; lure; tempt (provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion)

Verb group:

accost; hook; solicit (approach with an offer of sexual favors)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

hook (anything that serves as an enticement)

Sense 12

Meaning:

Approach with an offer of sexual favors

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

accost; hook; solicit

Context example:

The young man was caught soliciting in the park

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

offer (make available or accessible, provide or furnish)

Verb group:

hook; snare (entice and trap)

Sentence frames:

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

 Context examples 

This protein is comprised of the transactivation domain of the RNA-binding protein EWS fused to the C-terminus of POZ-, AT hook-, and zinc finger-containing protein 1 containing two C2H2 zinc-finger DNA binding domains.

(EWSR1/PATZ1 Fusion Protein Long B Isoform, NCI Thesaurus)

Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) Aids or devices that you usually use for any of these activities - Devices used for dressing (button hook, zipper pull, long-handled shoe horn, etc.).

(HAQ-DI - Aids or Devices - Used For Dressing, NCI Thesaurus)

HMGA proteins contain three AT-hooks that bind to minor groove AT-rich stretches.

(HMGA Family Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

This protein is comprised of the transactivation domain of the RNA-binding protein EWS fused to POZ-, AT hook-, and zinc finger-containing protein 1.

(EWSR1/PATZ1 Fusion Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

ESX contains two putative DNA-binding domains: an ETS domain and an A/T hook domain.

(ESX Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

Martin hooked with his left, landing on the pivoting man with the weight of his body behind the blow.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I trebled the cable to make it stronger, and for the same reason I twisted three of the iron bars together, bending the extremities into a hook.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Each protein contains three copies of the AT-hook, that preferentially binds to the minor groove of stretches of AT-rich sequence.

(HMGA Family Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

This protein is comprised of the AT-hook DNA binding domain of the high mobility group protein HMGI-C fused to the C-terminal region of the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase CCNB1IP1 protein.

(HMGA2/CCNB1IP1 Fusion Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

An imaging device is used to guide a thin wire with a hook on the end through a hollow needle to place the wire in or around the abnormal area.

(Needle-localized biopsy, NCI Dictionary)