Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter H

Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter H - Page 1

H, () The eighth letter of the English alphabet, is classed among the consonants, and is formed with the mouth organs in the same position as that of the succeeding vowel. It is used with certain consonants to form digraphs representing sounds which are not found in the alphabet, as sh, th, [th], as in shall, thing, [th]ine (for zh see [sect]274); also, to modify the sounds of some other letters, as when placed after c and p, with the former of which it represents a compound sound like that of tsh, as in charm (written also tch as in catch), with the latter, the sound of f, as in phase, phantom. In some words, mostly derived or introduced from foreign languages, h following c and g indicates that those consonants have the hard sound before e, i, and y, as in chemistry, chiromancy, chyle, Ghent, Ghibelline, etc.; in some others, ch has the sound of sh, as in chicane. See Guide to Pronunciation, [sect][sect] 153, 179, 181-3, 237-8.

Note: The name (aitch) is from the French ache; its form is from the Latin, and this from the Greek H, which was used as the sign of the spiritus asper (rough breathing) before it came to represent the long vowel, Gr. [eta]. The Greek H is from Ph[oe]nician, the ultimate origin probably being Egyptian. Etymologically H is most closely related to c; as in E. horn, L. cornu, Gr. ke`ras; E. hele, v. t., conceal; E. hide, L. cutis, Gr. ky`tos; E. hundred, L. centum, Gr. "e-kat-on, Skr. [.c]ata.

H piece (Mining), The part of a plunger pump which contains the valve.

H () (Mus.) The seventh degree in the diatonic scale, being used by the Germans for B natural. See B.

Compare: Ion

Ion (n.) (Elec. Chem.) an atom or goup of atoms (radical) carrying an electrical charge. It is contrasted with neutral atoms or molecules, and free radicals. Certain compounds, such as sodium chloride, are composed of complementary ions in the solid (crystalline) as well as in solution. Others, notably acids such as hydrogen chloride, may occur as neutral molecules in the pure liquid or gas forms, and ionize almost completely in dilute aqueous solutions. In solutions (as in water) ions are frequently bound non-covalently with the molecules of solvent, and in that case are said to be solvated. According to the electrolytic dissociation theory, the molecules of electrolytes are divided into ions by water and other solvents. An ion consists of one or more atoms and carries one unit charges of electricity, 3.4 x 10^{-10 electrostatic units, or a multiple of this. Those which are positively electrified (hydrogen and the metals) are called cations; negative ions (hydroxyl and acidic atoms or groups) are called anions.

Note: Thus, hydrochloric acid ({HCl) dissociates, in aqueous solution, into the hydrogen ion, H+, and the chlorine ion, Cl-; ferric nitrate, Fe(NO3)3, yields the ferric ion, Fe+++, and nitrate ions, NO3-, NO3-, NO3-. When a solution containing ions is made part of an electric circuit, the cations move toward the cathode, the anions toward the anode. This movement is called migration, and the velocity of it differs for different kinds of ions. If the electromotive force is sufficient, electrolysis ensues: cations give up their charge at the cathode and separate in metallic form or decompose water, forming hydrogen and alkali; similarly, at the anode the element of the anion separates, or the metal of the anode is dissolved, or decomposition occurs. Aluminum and chlorine are elements prepared predominantly by such electrolysis, and depends on dissolving compounds in a solvent where the element forms ions. Electrolysis is also used in refining other metals, such as copper and silver. Cf. Anion, Cation.

Ion (n.) One of the small electrified particles into which the molecules of a gas are broken up under the action of the electric current, of ultraviolet and certain other rays, and of high temperatures. To the properties and behavior of ions the phenomena of the electric discharge through rarefied gases and many other important effects are ascribed. At low pressures the negative ions appear to be electrons; the positive ions, atoms minus an electron. At ordinary pressures each ion seems to include also a number of attached molecules. Ions may be formed in a gas in various ways.

H (n.) A nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the

simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the

universe [syn: hydrogen, H, atomic number 1].

H (n.) 2: A unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force

of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the

rate of one ampere per second [syn: henry, H].

H (n.) The constant of proportionality relating the energy of a photon to its frequency; approximately 6.626 x 10^-34 joule-second [syn: Planck's constant, h].

H (n.) The 8th letter of the Roman alphabet [syn: H, h].

H (n.) (Thermodynamics) a thermodynamic quantity equal to the internal energy of a system plus the product of its volume and pressure; "enthalpy is the amount of energy in a system capable of doing mechanical work" [syn: heat content, total heat, enthalpy, H].

H, () [from SF fandom] A method of ?marking? common words, i.e., calling attention to the fact that they are being used in a nonstandard, ironic, or humorous way. Originated in the fannish catchphrase ?Bheer is the One True Ghod!? from decades ago. H-infix marking of ?Ghod? and other words spread into the 1960s counterculture via underground comix, and into early hackerdom either from the counterculture or from SF fandom (the three overlapped heavily at the time). More recently, the h infix has become an expected feature of benchmark names (Dhrystone, Rhealstone, etc.); this is probably patterning on the original Whetstone (the name of a laboratory) but influenced by the fannish/counterculture h infix.

H, () A simple markup language intended for quick conversion of existing text to hypertext.

H, () A method of marking common words to call attention to the fact that they are being used in a nonstandard, ironic, or humorous way. Originated in the fannish catchphrase "Bheer is the One True Ghod!" from decades ago. H-infix marking of "Ghod" and other words spread into the 1960s counterculture via underground comix, and into early hackerdom either from the counterculture or from SF fandom (the three overlapped heavily at the time). More recently, the h infix has become an expected feature of benchmark names (Dhrystone, Rhealstone, etc.); this follows on from the original Whetstone (the name of a laboratory) but may have been influenced by the fannish/counterculture h infix. [{Jargon File] (1994-11-04)

Ha (interj.) [AS.] An exclamation denoting surprise, joy, or grief. Both as uttered and as written, it expresses a great variety of emotions, determined by the tone or the context. When repeated, ha, ha, it is an expression of laughter, satisfaction, or triumph, sometimes of derisive laughter; or sometimes it is equivalent to "Well, it is so."

Ha-has, and inarticulate hootings of satirical rebuke. -- Carlyle.

HA (n.) (Astronomy) The angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along the celestial equator from the zenith crossing; the right ascension for an observer at a particular location and time of day [syn: hour angle, HA]

Haaf (n.) The deepsea fishing for cod, ling, and tusk, off the Shetland Isles.

Haak (n.) (Zool.) A sea fish. See Hake. -- Ash.

Compare: Hake

Hake (n.) [Also haak.] (Zool.) One of several species of marine gadoid fishes, of the genera Phycis, Merlucius, and allies. The common European hake is Merlucius vulgaris; the American silver hake or whiting is Merlucius bilinearis. Two American species ({Phycis chuss and Phycis tenius) are important food fishes, and are also valued for their oil and sounds. Called also squirrel hake, and codling.

Haar (n.) A fog; esp., a fog or mist with a chill wind.

Habeas corpus () A writ having for its object to bring a party before a court or judge; especially, one to inquire into the cause of a person's imprisonment or detention by another, with the view to protect the right to personal liberty; also, one to bring a prisoner into court to testify in a pending trial.

Habendum (n.) That part of a deed which follows the part called the premises, and determines the extent of the interest or estate granted; -- so called because it begins with the word Habendum.

Haberdash (v. i.) To deal in small wares.

Haberdasher (n.) A dealer in small wares, as tapes, pins, needles, and thread; also, a hatter.

Haberdasher (n.) A dealer in drapery goods of various descriptions, as laces, silks, trimmings, etc.

Haberdashery (n.) The goods and wares sold by a haberdasher; also (Fig.), trifles.

Haberdine (n.) A cod salted and dried.

Habergeon (n.) Properly, a short hauberk, but often used loosely for the hauberk.

Habilatory (a.) Of or pertaining to clothing; wearing clothes.

Habile (a.) Fit; qualified; also, apt.

Habiliment (n.) （常用複數）服裝；裝飾；裝備 A garment; an article of clothing. -- Camden.

Habiliment (n.) pl. Dress, in general. -- Shak.

Habiliment (n.) A covering designed to be worn on a person's body [syn: clothing, article of clothing, vesture, wear, wearable, habiliment].

Habilimented (a.) 穿著衣服的 Clothed. Taylor (1630).

Habilimented (a.) Dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination; "the elegantly attired gentleman"; "neatly dressed workers"; "monks garbed in hooded robes"; "went about oddly garmented"; "professors robed in crimson"; "tuxedo-attired gentlemen"; "crimson-robed Harvard professors" [syn: appareled, attired, dressed, garbed, garmented, habilimented, robed].

Habilitate (a.) Qualified or entitled.

Habilitate (v. t.) To fit out; to equip; to qualify; to entitle.

Habilitation (n.) Equipment; qualification.

Hability (n.) Ability; aptitude.

Habit (n.) 習慣 [C] [U]；（動植物的）習性 [C] [U]；氣質 [S]；宗教服装 The usual condition or state of a person or thing, either natural or acquired, regarded as something had, possessed, and firmly retained; as, a religious habit; his habit is morose; elms have a spreading habit; esp., physical temperament or constitution; as, a full habit of body.

Habit (n.) The general appearance and manner of life of a living organism.

Habit (n.) Fixed or established custom; ordinary course of conduct; practice; usage; hence, prominently, the involuntary tendency or aptitude to perform certain actions which is acquired by their frequent repetition; as, habit is second nature; also, peculiar ways of acting; characteristic forms of behavior.

Habit (n.) Outward appearance; attire; dress; hence, a garment; esp., a closely fitting garment or dress worn by ladies; as, a riding habit.

Habit (n.) Hence: The distinctive clothing worn commonly by nuns or monks; as, in the late 1900's many orders of nuns discarded their habits and began to dress as ordinary lay women.

Habited (imp. & p. p.) of Habit.

Habiting (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Habit.

Habit (v. t.) 给…穿衣服；打扮；To inhabit. [Obs.]

Habit (v. t.) To dress; to clothe; to array.

Habit (v. t.) To accustom; to habituate. [Obs.] -- Chapman.

Habit (n.) An established custom; "it was their habit to dine at 7 every evening" [syn: {habit}, {wont}].

Habit (n.) (Psychology) An automatic pattern of behavior in reaction to a specific situation; may be inherited or acquired through frequent repetition; "owls have nocturnal habits"; "she had a habit twirling the ends of her hair"; "long use had hardened him to it" [syn: {habit}, {use}].

Habit (n.) A distinctive attire worn by a member of a religious order.

Habit (n.) The general form or mode of growth (especially of a plant or crystal); "a shrub of spreading habit."

Habit (n.) Attire that is typically worn by a horseback rider (especially a woman's attire) [syn: {habit}, {riding habit}].

Habit (n.) Excessive use of drugs [syn: {substance abuse}, {drug abuse}, {habit}].

Habit (v.) Put a habit on.

Habitability (n.) Habitableness.

Habitable (a.) Capable of being inhabited; that may be inhabited or dwelt in; as, the habitable world.

Habitakle (v.) A dwelling place.

Habitan (n.) Same as Habitant, 2.

Habitance (n.) Dwelling; abode; residence.

Habiitancy (n.) Same as Inhabitancy.

Habitant (v. t.) An inhabitant; a dweller.

Habitant (v. t.) An inhabitant or resident; -- a name applied to and denoting farmers of French descent or origin in Canada, especially in the Province of Quebec; -- usually in plural.

Habitat (v. t.) The natural abode, locality or region of an animal or plant.

Habitat (v. t.) Place where anything is commonly found.

Habitation (n.) 【書】居住 [U]；住處，住所，住房 [C] The act of inhabiting; state of inhabiting or dwelling, or of being inhabited; occupancy. -- Denham.

Habitation (n.) Place of abode; settled dwelling; residence; house.

The Lord . . . blesseth the habitation of the just. -- Prov. iii. 33.

Habitation (n.) The native habitat or home of an animal or plant.

Habitation (n.) Housing that someone is living in; "he built a modest dwelling near the pond"; "they raise money to provide homes for the homeless" [syn: dwelling, home, domicile, abode, habitation, dwelling house].

Habitation (n.) The act of dwelling in or living permanently in a place (said of both animals and men); "he studied the creation and inhabitation and demise of the colony" [syn: inhabitancy, inhabitation, habitation].

Habitation (n.) God is the habitation of his people, who find rest and safety in him (Ps. 71:3; 91:9). Justice and judgment are the habitation of God's throne (Ps. 89:14, Heb. mekhon, "foundation"), because all his acts are founded on justice and judgment. (See Ps. 132:5, 13; Eph. 2:22, of Canaan, Jerusalem, and the temple as God's habitation.) God inhabits eternity (Isa. 57:15), i.e., dwells not only among men, but in eternity, where time is unknown; and "the praises of Israel" (Ps. 22:3), i.e., he dwells among those praises and is continually surrounded by them.

Habitation (n.) Civil law. It was the right of a person to live in the house of another without prejudice to the property.

Habitation (n.) It differed from a usufruct in this, that the usufructuary might have applied the house to any purpose, as, a store or manufactory; whereas the party having the right of habitation. could only use it for the residence of himself and family. 1 Bro. Civ. Law, 184 Domat. l. 1, t. 11, s. 2, n. 7.

Habitation (), Estates. A dwelling-house, a home-stall. 2 Bl. Com. 4; 4 Bl. Com. 220. Vide House.

Habitator (n.) A dweller; an inhabitant.

Habited (p. p. & a.) Clothed; arrayed; dressed; as, he was habited like a shepherd.

Habited (p. p. & a.) Fixed by habit; accustomed.

Habited (p. p. & a.) Inhabited.

Habitual (a.) 習慣的，習以為常的；慣常的 Formed or acquired by habit or use.

An habitual knowledge of certain rules and maxims. -- South.

Habitual (a.) According to habit; established by habit; customary; constant; as, the habiual practice of sin.

It is the distinguishing mark of habitual piety to be grateful for the most common and ordinary blessings. -- Buckminster.

Syn: Customary; accustomed; usual; common; wonted; ordinary; regular; familiar. -- Ha*bit"u*al*ly, adv. -- Ha*bit"u*al*ness, n.

Habitual (a.) Commonly used or practiced; usual; "his accustomed thoroughness"; "took his customary morning walk"; "his habitual comment"; "with her wonted candor" [syn: accustomed, customary, habitual, wonted(a)].

Habitually (adv.) 習慣地；慣常地According to habit or custom; "her habitually severe expression"; "he habitually keeps his office door closed."

Habitually. () Customarily, by habit. or frequent use or practice, or so frequently, as to show a design of repeating the same act. 2 N. S. 622: 1 Mart. Lo. R. 149.

Habitually. () In order to found proceedings in lunacy, it is requisite that the insanity should be habitual, yet it is not necessary that it should be continued. 1 Bouv. Inst. n. 379.

Habituated (imp. & p. p.) of Habituate.

Habituating (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Habituate.

Habituate (v. t.) 使習慣於 To make accustomed; to accustom; to familiarize.

Our English dogs, who were habituated to a colder clime. -- Sir K. Digby.

Men are first corrupted . . . and next they habituate themselves to their vicious practices. -- Tillotson.

Habituate (v. t.) To settle as an inhabitant.

Habituate (a.) Firmly established by custom; formed by habit; habitual. [R.] -- Hammond.

Habituate (v.) Take or consume (regularly or habitually); "She uses drugs rarely" [syn: use, habituate].

Habituate (v.) Make psychologically or physically used (to something); "She became habituated to the background music" [syn: habituate, accustom].

Habituation (n.) 使習慣；習慣；熟習 The act of habituating, or accustoming; the state of being habituated.

Habituation (n.) Being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming (especially alcohol or narcotic drugs) [syn: addiction, dependence, dependance, dependency, habituation].

Habituation (n.) A general accommodation to unchanging environmental conditions.

Habitude (n.) 習慣；習俗；體質；本質，本性 Habitual attitude; usual or accustomed state with reference to something else; established or usual relations. -- South.

The same ideas having immutably the same habitudes one to another. -- Locke.

The verdict of the judges was biased by nothing else than their habitudes of thinking. -- Landor.

Habitude (n.) Habitual association, intercourse, or familiarity.

To write well, one must have frequent habitudes with the best company. -- Dryden.

Habitude (n.) Habit of body or of action. -- Shak.

It is impossible to gain an exact habitude without an infinite number of acts and perpetual practice. -- Dryden.

Habitude (n.) Habitual mode of behavior.

Habitue (n.) One who habitually frequents a place; as, an habitue of a theater.

Habitue (n.) A regular patron; "an habitue of the racetrack"; "a bum who is a Central Park fixture" [syn: regular, habitue, fixture].

Habiture (n.) Habitude. [Obs.]

Habitus (n.) [L.] (Zool.) Habitude; mode of life; general appearance.

Habitus (n.) Person's predisposition to be affected by something (as a disease); "the consumptive habitus."

Habitus (n.) Constitution of the human body [syn: physique, build, body-build, habitus].

Hable (a.) See Habile. [Obs.] -- Spenser.

Habnab (adv.) By chance. [Obs.]

Hachure (n.) (Fine Arts)（地圖上表示地面傾斜的）暈滃線；影線 A short line used in drawing and engraving, especially in shading and denoting different surfaces, as in map drawing. See {Hatching}.

Hachure (n.) Shading consisting of multiple crossing lines [syn: {hatch}, {hatching}, {crosshatch}, {hachure}].

Hacienda (n.) A large estate where work of any kind is done, as agriculture, manufacturing, mining, or raising of animals; a cultivated farm, with a good house, in distinction from a farming establishment with rude huts for herdsmen, etc.; -- a word used in Spanish-American regions.

Hacienda (n.) The main residence of a hacienda [1].

Hacienda (n.) A large estate in Spanish-speaking countries.

Hacienda (n.) The main house on a ranch or large estate.

Hack (v. t.) (Football) To kick the shins of (an opposing payer).

Hack (v. i.) To cough faintly and frequently, or in a short, broken manner; as, a hacking cough.

Hack (n.) A notch; a cut. -- Shak.

Hack (n.) An implement for cutting a notch; a large pick used in breaking stone.

Hack (n.) A hacking; a catch in speaking; a short, broken cough. -- Dr. H. More.

Hack (n.) (Football) A kick on the shins , or a cut from a kick. -- T. Hughes.

Hack (n.) (Computers) A clever computer program or routine within a program to accomplish an objective in a non-obvious fashion.

Hack (n.) (Computers) A quick and inelegant, though functional solution to a programming problem.

Hack (n.) A taxicab. [informal]

Hack saw, A handsaw having a narrow blade stretched in an iron frame, for cutting metal.

Hack (n.) A frame or grating of various kinds; as, a frame for drying bricks, fish, or cheese; a rack for feeding cattle; a grating in a mill race, etc.

Hack (n.) Unburned brick or tile, stacked up for drying.

Hacked (imp. & p. p.) of Hack.

Hacking (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Hack.

Hack (v. t.) To cut irregulary, without skill or definite purpose; to notch; to mangle by repeated strokes of a cutting instrument; as, to hack a post.

My sword hacked like a handsaw. -- Shak.

Hack (v. t.) Fig.: To mangle in speaking. -- Shak.

Hack (v. t.) (Computers) To program (a computer) for pleasure or compulsively; especially, to try to defeat the security systems and gain unauthorized access to a computer.

Hack (v. t.) To bear, physically or emotionally; as, he left the job because he couldn't hack the pressure. [Colloq.]

Hack (a.) Hackneyed; hired; mercenary. -- Wakefield.

Hack writer, A hack; one who writes for hire. "A vulgar hack writer." -- Macaulay.

Hack (v. t.) To use as a hack; to let out for hire.

Hack (v. t.) To use frequently and indiscriminately, so as to render trite and commonplace.

The word "remarkable" has been so hacked of late. -- J. H. Newman.

Hack (n.) A horse, hackneyed or let out for common hire; also, a horse used in all kinds of work, or a saddle horse, as distinguished from hunting and carriage horses.

Hack (n.) A coach or carriage let for hire; a hackney coach; formerly, a coach with two seats inside facing each other; now, usually a taxicab.

On horse, on foot, in hacks and gilded chariots. -- Pope.

Hack (n.) Hence: The driver of a hack; a taxi driver; a hackman.

Hack (n.) A bookmaker who hires himself out for any sort of literary work; an overworked man; a drudge.

Here lies poor Ned Purdon, from misery freed, Who long was a bookseller's hack. -- Goldsmith.

Hack (n.) A procuress.

Hack (v. i.) To be exposed or offered or to common use for hire; to turn prostitute. -- Hanmer.

Hack (v. i.) To live the life of a drudge or hack. -- Goldsmith.

Hack (v. i.) To ride or drive as one does with a hack horse; to ride at an ordinary pace, or over the roads, as distinguished from riding across country or in military fashion.

Compare: Taxicab

Taxicab (n.) An automobile with a professional driver which can be hired to carry passengers; -- also called a taxi, and informally called a cab or a hack. The driver of a taxicab is referred to as a cab driver or cabbie, and sometimes as a chauffeur or hackie.

Note: Taxicabs may be engaged by a prior appointment made, e.g. by telephone, or they may cruise for passengers, i.e. they may drive in city streets and stop to pick up pasengers when they are signalled by a prospective passenger. The act of signalling a taxicab (usually by a wave of the arm) is often called to hail a cab or to flag down a cab.

Heck (n.) The bolt or latch of a door. [Prov. Eng.]

Heck (n.) A rack for cattle to feed at. [Prov. Eng.]

Heck (n.) A door, especially one partly of latticework; -- called

also heck door. [Prov. Eng.] -- Halliwell.

Heck (n.) A latticework contrivance for catching fish.

Heck (n.) (Weaving) An apparatus for separating the threads of warps into sets, as they are wound upon the reel from the bobbins, in a warping machine.

Heck (n.) A bend or winding of a stream. [Prov. Eng.]

Half heck, The lower half of a door.

Heck board, The loose board at the bottom or back of a cart.

Heck box or Heck frame, That which carries the heck in warping.

Hack (n.) One who works hard at boring tasks [syn: hack, drudge, hacker].

Hack (n.) A politician who belongs to a small clique that controls a political party for private rather than public ends [syn:

machine politician, ward-heeler, political hack, hack].

Hack (n.) A mediocre and disdained writer [syn: hack, hack writer, literary hack].

Hack (n.) A tool (as a hoe or pick or mattock) used for breaking up the surface of the soil.

Hack (n.) A car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for money [syn: cab, hack, taxi, taxicab].

Hack (n.) An old or over-worked horse [syn: hack, jade, nag, plug].

Hack (n.) A horse kept for hire.

Hack (n.) A saddle horse used for transportation rather than sport etc.

Hack (v.) Cut with a hacking tool [syn: chop, hack].

Hack (v.) Be able to manage or manage successfully; "I can't hack it anymore"; "she could not cut the long days in the office" [syn: hack, cut].

Hack (v.) Cut away; "he hacked his way through the forest."

Hack (v.) Kick on the arms.

Hack (v.) Kick on the shins.

Hack (v.) Fix a computer program piecemeal until it works; "I'm not very good at hacking but I'll give it my best" [syn: hack, hack on].

Hack (v.) Significantly cut up a manuscript [syn: hack, cut up].

Hack (v.) Cough spasmodically; "The patient with emphysema is hacking all day" [syn: hack, whoop].

Hack (n.) Originally, a quick job that produces what is needed, but not well.

Hack (n.) An incredibly good, and perhaps very time-consuming, piece of work that produces exactly what is needed.

Hack (v. t.) To bear emotionally or physically. ?I can't hack this heat!?

Hack (v. t.) To work on something (typically a program). In an immediate sense: ?

What are you doing?? ?I'm hacking TECO.? In a general (time-extended) sense: ?What do you do around here?? ?I hack TECO.? More generally, ?I hack foo? is roughly equivalent to ?foo is my major interest (or project)?. ?I hack solid-state physics.? See Hacking X for Y.

Hack (v. t.) To pull a prank on. See sense 2 and hacker (sense 5).

Hack (v. i.) To interact with a computer in a playful and exploratory rather than goal-directed way. ?Whatcha up to?? ?Oh, just hacking.?

Hack (n.) Short for hacker.

Hack (n.) See nethack.

Hack (v.) [MIT] To explore the basements, roof ledges, and steam tunnels of a large, institutional building, to the dismay of Physical Plant workers and (since this is usually performed at educational institutions) the Campus Police. This activity has been found to be eerily similar to playing adventure games such as Dungeons and Dragons and Zork. See also vadding.

Constructions on this term abound. They include happy hacking (a farewell), how's hacking? (a friendly greeting among hackers) and hack, hack (a fairly content-free but friendly comment, often used as a temporary farewell). For more on this totipotent term see The Meaning of Hack. See also neat hack, real hack.

Hack, () Originally, a quick job that produces what is needed, but not well.

Hack, () An incredibly good, and perhaps very time-consuming, piece of work that produces exactly what is needed.

Hack, () To bear emotionally or physically. "I can't hack this heat!"

Hack, () To work on something (typically a program). In an immediate sense: "What are you doing?" "I'm hacking TECO."

In a general (time-extended) sense: "What do you do around here?" "I hack TECO." More generally, "I hack "foo"" is roughly equivalent to ""foo" is my major interest (or project)". "I hack solid-state physics." See Hacking X for Y.

Hack, () To pull a prank on. See hacker.

Hack, () To interact with a computer in a playful and exploratory rather than goal-directed way. "Whatcha up to?" "Oh, just hacking."

Hack, () Short for hacker.

Hack, () See nethack.

Hack, () (MIT) To explore the basements, roof ledges, and steam tunnels of a large, institutional building, to the dismay of Physical Plant workers and (since this is usually performed at educational institutions) the Campus Police. This activity has been found to be eerily similar to playing adventure games such as Dungeons and Dragons and Zork. See also vadding.