Hack — Defs

01 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.

1.
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.
2.
Unburned brick or tile, stacked up for drying.

02 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.

imp. & p. p. Hacked; p. pr. & vb. n. Hacking

1.
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.
2.
Fig.: To mangle in speaking.
3.
To program (a computer) for pleasure or compulsively; especially, to try to defeat the security systems and gain unauthorized access to a computer.(Computers)
4.
To bear, physically or emotionally; as, he left the job because he couldn't hack the pressure.[Colloq.]

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

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

1.
To cough faintly and frequently, or in a short, broken manner; as, a hacking cough.

05 n. A notch; a cut.

1.
A notch; a cut.
2.
An implement for cutting a notch; a large pick used in breaking stone.
3.
A hacking; a catch in speaking; a short, broken cough.
4.
A kick on the shins, or a cut from a kick.(Football)
5.
A clever computer program or routine within a program to accomplish an objective in a non-obvious fashion.(Computers)
6.
A quick and inelegant, though functional solution to a programming problem.(Computers)
7.
A taxicab.[informal] See: taxicab

Phrases & compounds

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

06 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 an…

1.
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.
2.
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.
3.
The driver of a hack; a taxi driver; a hackman.
4.
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.
5.
A procuress.

07 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…

1.
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.

08 a. Hackneyed; hired; mercenary.

Phrases & compounds

Hack writer — a hack; one who writes for hire.

09 v. t. To use as a hack; to let out for hire.

1.
To use as a hack; to let out for hire.
2.
To use frequently and indiscriminately, so as to render trite and commonplace.
“The word “remarkable” has been so hacked of late.” — J. H. Newman.

10 v. i. To be exposed or offered to common use for hire; to turn prostitute.