26984 words

hang

16 definitions • 35 examples
1
to fasten or support something at the top leaving the other parts free to move, or to be held in this way:

Examples:

hang around A heavy gold necklace hung around her neck.
hang from A large bunch of keys was hanging from her belt.
hang down from Party decorations hung down from the ceiling.
hang in The curtains hung in thick folds.
Hang your coat and hat on the rack over there.
hang something up Jana hung her bag up and walked into the kitchen.
Many of his finest pictures hang/are hung (= are attached to the wall so that they can be seen) in the National Gallery.
2
If you hang wallpaper, you fix it to the wall.
3
to hang up a bird or animal after killing it in order to make the meat relax and have a stronger taste, or to be hung up in this way:

Examples:

Hanging meat is really important to the quality of the meat, and is the first stage of good butchery.
Let the pheasant hang for a few days for the flavour to improve before you cook it.
4
to kill someone, especially as punishment for a serious crime, by dropping them with a rope tied around their neck, or to die in this way:

Examples:

He was found guilty and hanged later that year.
With so little evidence to prove her guilt, few people thought she should hang.
hang yourself The woman tried to hang herself with a sheet.
5
to stay in the air:

Examples:

hang in the air The falcon seemed to hang in the air for a moment before diving onto its prey.
literary The sound of the bells hung in the midnight air.
hang above Smoke from the houses hung above the village.
6
to curve down:

Examples:

The branches hung heavy with snow.
He knew he'd done something wrong and hung his head in shame.
7
to make a turn in a particular direction, especially when driving:

Examples:

Drive a few miles down Bailey Street, then hang a left on Clinton Avenue.
A dump truck rumbles out of a driveway, hangs a right, and drives off.
For a panoramic view, hang a left and go west along the ridge.
You hang a right, then a left and then another right.
I hung a U-turn and came right over to share this with you all.
8
to spend time relaxing with a person or in a place:

Examples:

hang with Ashley spent most of the evening hanging with her friend.
Sometimes we just hang in the park.
9
(of a computer program or system) to stop working or appearing on a screen:

Examples:

In the middle of a download, it just hangs.
10
If a pitcher in baseball hangs the ball, or if the ball hangs, it is thrown badly so that it does not spin very much and it is easy for the batter to hit it hard:

Examples:

Weaver hung a curveball, which Garcia hit for a home run.
His first pitch was a hanging slider.
11
to learn how to do something, especially if it is not obvious or simple:

Examples:

get the hang of it "I've never used this program before." "Don't worry - you'll soon get the hang of it."
12
the way something made of cloth looks when it is hanging:

Examples:

That coat fits you so well - the hang is perfect.
13
to attach or support something at the top, leaving the other part parts free, or to be held in this way:

Examples:

[ I ] There was no wind, and the flag hung straight down.
[ T ] I plan to hang this picture in the hall.
14
to kill someone by fixing a rope around the neck and tying it to something above the person and then causing the body to drop down suddenly:

Examples:

[ T ] He was sentenced to die and was hanged the next morning.
15
to stay in the air:

Examples:

Smoke from the campfires hung in the air.
16
to turn to the left or right:

Examples:

Hang a left/right at the next corner.

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