hang

I UK [hæŋ] / US verb
Word forms "hang":
present tense I/you/we/they hang he/she/it hangs present participle hanging past tense hung UK [hʌŋ] / US past participle hung
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1) [transitive] to put something somewhere so that the top part is held in position but the bottom part is loose and can move easily

Hang your jacket there.

hang something on/over something:

Philip hung his hat on a hook behind the door.

She hung her bag over the chair.

a) [intransitive] to be fixed so that the top part is held in position but the bottom part is loose and can move easily

hang from:

A row of saucepans hung from hooks above the sink.

hang on:

The children's coats were hanging on pegs behind the door.

b) [intransitive] if your hair hangs down, it is long and not tied

hang over:

Her dark hair hung down over her shoulders.

hang loose:

His long hair hung loose.

c) [intransitive] if clothes hang well, they are loose and fit properly and look attractive when you wear them

2) [transitive] to fix a picture, mirror etc onto a wall

The portrait will now be hung in the National Gallery.

a) [intransitive] if a picture, mirror etc hangs somewhere, it is fixed to a wall there

A large mirror hung over the fireplace.

b) [transitive] if a wall or room is hung with pictures, there are pictures on the walls

c) [transitive] to fix a door into position

It took us ages to hang the new front door.

3) [transitive] to fix paper to a wall as decoration

We spent the afternoon hanging wallpaper in our bedroom.

4)

a) [transitive]

Word forms "hang":
past tense hanged past participle hanged to kill someone by putting a rope around their neck and making them fall

He was hanged for murder in 1942.

be found hanged:

A prisoner was found hanged in her cell.

hang yourself:

After his wife left, he tried to hang himself.

b) [intransitive] to die in this way

They knew if she was found guilty she would hang.

5) [intransitive] if something such as smoke or a smell hangs in the air, it remains there

hang over/in:

A thick mist hung over the fields.

A smell of stale tobacco hung in the room.

6) [intransitive] mainly literary if something hangs in the sky, it is seen there

A crescent moon hung low over the lake.

7) hang or hang out

[intransitive] informal to spend time in a particular place or with particular people

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hang (on) in there — informal to continue doing something in a determined way even though it is difficult

hang a left/right — American

spoken to turn left or right when you are driving

- hang by a thread

- hang something

- hang your head

Phrasal verbs:

- hang about

- hang around

- hang around with

- hang back

- hang on

- hang onto

- hang out

- hang over

- hang together

- hang up

- hang with

See:

fire I

II UK [hæŋ] / US noun
Word forms "hang":
singular hang plural hangs

get/have the hang of something — informal to learn a skill or activity

Skiing is not very tiring, once you get the hang of it.