- to fasten or attach (a thing) so that it is supported only from above or at a point near its own top;suspend.
- to attach or suspend so as to allow free movement: to hang a pendulum.
- to place in position or fasten so as to allow easy or ready movement.
- to put to death by suspending by the neck from a gallows, gibbet, yardarm, or the like.
- to suspend (oneself) by the neck until dead: He hanged himself from a beam in the attic.
- to fasten to a cross; crucify.
- to furnish or decorate with something suspended: to hang a room with pictures.
- to fasten into position; fix at a proper angle: to hang a scythe.
- to fasten or attach (wallpaper, pictures, etc.) to a wall: to hang pictures in a room.
- to suspend (something) in front of anything: to hang curtains on a window.
- Fine Arts.
- to exhibit (a painting or group of paintings): The gallery hung his paintings in a small corner.
- to put the paintings of (an art exhibition) on the wall of a gallery: They hung the show that morning.
- to attach or annex as an addition: to hang a rider on a bill.
- to attach (a door or the like) to its frame by means of hinges.
- to allow to droop:He hung his head in shame.
- to make (an idea, form, etc.) dependent on a situation, structure, concept, or the like, usually derived from another source: He hung the meaning of his puns on the current political scene.
- (of a juror) to keep (a jury) from rendering a verdict by refusing to agree with the others.
- freeze (def. 28): If a critical error hangs your operating system, you will need to reboot the computer.
- to cause (a nickname, epithet, etc.) to become associated with a person: Friends hung that nickname on him.
- to hit with (a fist, blow, punch, etc.): He hung a left on his opponent's jaw.
- to throw (a pitch) so that it fails to break, as a curve.
- to steady (a boat) in one place against a wind or current by thrusting a pole or the like into the bottom under the boat and allowing the wind or current to push the boat side-on against the pole.
- (used in mild curses and emphatic expressions, often as a euphemism for damn): I'll be hanged if I do. Hang it all!
- to be suspended; dangle.
- to swing freely, as on a hinge.
- to incline downward, jut out, or lean over or forward: The tree hung over the edge of the lake.
- to be suspended by the neck, as from a gallows, and suffer death in this way.
- to be crucified.
- to droop or sag:After the drastic weight loss, his skin seemed to hang from his frame.
- to fit or drape in graceful lines: That coat hangs well in back.
- to be conditioned or contingent; be dependent: His future hangs on the outcome of their discussion.
- to be doubtful or undecided; waver or hesitate: He hung between staying and going.
- to remain unfinished or undecided; be delayed: Let that matter hang until our next meeting.
- to linger, remain, or persist: He hung by her side, unwilling to leave.
- to float or hover in the air: Fog hung over the city.
- to be oppressive, burdensome, or tedious: guilt that hangs on one's conscience.
- to remain in attention or consideration (often followed by on or upon): They hung on his every word.
- freeze (def. 13): That program hangs during launch, so I’ve never been able to use it.
- Fine Arts.
- to be exhibited: His works hang in most major museums.
- to have one's works on display: Rembrandt hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- to spend time somewhere or with someone; hang out.
- the way in which a thing hangs.
- the precise manner of doing, using, etc., something; knack: to get the hang of a tool.
- meaning or thought: to get the hang of a subject.
- freeze (def. 38).
- Nautical.
- loss of way due to adverse wind or current.
- a rake, as of a mast.
- the least degree of care, concern, etc. (used in mild curses and emphatic expressions as a euphemism for damn): He doesn't give a hang about those things.
- hang around / about Informal.
- to spend time in a certain place or in certain company: He hangs around with an older crowd.
- to linger about; loiter: They had stopped working and were just hanging around to talk.
- hang back,
- to be reluctant to proceed or move forward: The older pupils went straight to the podium, but the younger ones hung back out of shyness.
- to refrain from taking action; hesitate: A forward pass would have been the best call, but the quarterback hung back because his last pass had been intercepted.
- to persevere: She has managed to hang in despite years of bad luck.
- hang on,
- to hold fast; cling to.
- to continue with effort; persevere: If you can hang on for a month longer, you will be eligible for the bonus.
- to be sustained to the point of danger, tedium, etc.: coughs that hang on for months.
- to keep a telephone line open: Hang on, I'll see if she's here.
- to wait briefly; keep calm.
- See entry at hangout.
- hang over,
- to remain to be settled; be postponed: They will probably let the final decision hang over until next year.
- to be imminent or foreboding; threaten: Economic ruin hangs over the town.
- hang up,
- to suspend by placing on a hook, peg, or hanger.
- to cause or encounter delay; suspend or slow the progress of: The accident hung up the traffic for several hours.
- to break a telephone connection, as by replacing the receiver on the hook: She received an anonymous call, but the party hung up when she threatened to call the police.
- to cause a hang-up or hang-ups in: The experience hung her up for years.
- to make a left (or right) turn, as while driving an automobile: Hang a right at the next corner.
- to ride a surfboard with the weight of the body forward and the toes of the forward foot curled over the front edge of the surfboard.
- to be in a precarious state or condition: The wounded man's life hung in the balance.
- to quit, resign, give up, etc.: The chief engineer is hanging it up after 40 years with the company.
- to remain relaxed or calm: Try to hang loose and don't let it bother you.
- hang one on, Slang.
- to hit: He hung one on the bully and knocked him down.
- to become extremely drunk: Every payday he hangs one on.
- head (def. 66).
- to ride a surfboard with the weight of the body as far forward as possible and the toes of both feet curled over the front edge of the surfboard.
- See entry at hang tight.
- hang together,
- to be loyal to one another; remain united: “We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”
- to cohere: This pancake batter doesn't hang together.
- to be logical or consistent: His version of the story does not hang together.
- to remain unyielding, stubborn, or inflexible: He's hanging tough and won't change his mind.
- let it all hang out, Slang.
- to be completely candid in expressing one's feelings, opinions, etc.: She's never been one to let it all hang out.
- to act or live without restraint or inhibitions.
- to fasten or be fastened from above, esp by a cord, chain, etc; suspend
- to place or be placed in position as by a hinge so as to allow free movement around or at the place of suspension
- to be suspended or poised; hover
- to be imminent; threaten
- to be or remain doubtful or unresolved (esp in the phrase hang in the balance)
- to suspend or be suspended by the neck until dead
- to fasten, fix, or attach in position or at an appropriate angle
- to decorate, furnish, or cover with something suspended or fastened
- to fasten to or suspend from a wall
- to exhibit (a picture or pictures) by (a particular painter, printmaker, etc) or (of a picture or a painter, etc) to be exhibited in an art gallery, etc
- to fall or droop or allow to fall or droop
- (of cloth, clothing, etc) to drape, fall, or flow, esp in a specified manner
- to suspend (game such as pheasant) so that it becomes slightly decomposed and therefore more tender and tasty
- (of a jury) to prevent or be prevented from reaching a verdict
- to damn or be damned: used in mild curses or interjections
- to pass slowly (esp in the phrase time hangs heavily)
- hang fire
- to be delayed
- to procrastinate
- hang tough See tough (def. 10)
- the way in which something hangs
- a damn
- get the hang of informal
- to understand the technique of doing something
- to perceive the meaning or significance of
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