hack

I UK [hæk] / US verb
Word forms "hack":
present tense I/you/we/they hack he/she/it hacks present participle hacking past tense hacked past participle hacked
*

1) [intransitive/transitive] to cut something in a rough way, with a lot of energy, or many times

We hacked a trail through the bushes to bring in our supplies.

hack (away) at:

The boys were hacking at the undergrowth with heavy sticks.

hack something off:

Jo hacked a piece off the block of cheese.

2) [transitive] to spoil a piece of writing by removing or changing a lot of its parts

hack something to pieces:

The script had been hacked to pieces by an incompetent editor.

3) [transitive, usually in negatives or questions] informal to have enough energy or interest to deal with something

I wasn't sure I could hack the finance course.

hack it:

She just couldn't hack it as a journalist.

4) [intransitive/transitive] to use a computer to connect to someone else's computer secretly and often illegally, so that you can find or change information on it

Young kids are finding they can hack the computers of large corporations.

hack into:

They hack into banks and transfer huge amounts of cash.

5) [intransitive] British old-fashioned to go for a ride on a horse for pleasure in the countryside or on ordinary roads

6) [intransitive] to cough loudly

Phrasal verbs:

- hack up

II UK [hæk] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "hack":
singular hack plural hacks

1) informal a journalist, artist, or writer who does boring work or work that is not very good

a) a professional person who is only interested in making money

b) a junior politician or official who does boring work for a political party and is not respected

2) an occasion when you hit or cut something with a large knife or other sharp tool

3)

a) informal an old horse that is not easy or good to ride

b) British a ride on a horse for pleasure in the countryside or on ordinary roads

4) a loud dry cough