to fasten or attach (a thing) so that it is supported only from above or at a point near its own top; suspend.

to attach or suspend so as to allow free movement

to hang a pendulum.

to place in position or fasten so as to allow easy or ready movement.

to put to death by suspending by the neck from a gallows, gibbet, yardarm, or the like.

to suspend (oneself) by the neck until dead

He hanged himself from a beam in the attic.

to fasten to a cross; crucify.

to furnish or decorate with something suspended

to hang a room with pictures.

to fasten into position; fix at a proper angle

to hang a scythe.

to fasten or attach (wallpaper, pictures, etc.) to a wall

to hang pictures in a room.

to suspend (something) in front of anything

to hang curtains on a window.

Fine Arts .

to exhibit (a painting or group of paintings)

The gallery hung his paintings in a small corner.

to put the paintings of (an art exhibition) on the wall of a gallery

They hung the show that morning.

to attach or annex as an addition

to hang a rider on a bill.

to attach (a door or the like) to its frame by means of hinges.

to make (an idea, form, etc.) dependent on a situation, structure, concept, or the like, usually derived from another source

He hung the meaning of his puns on the current political scene.

(of a juror) to keep (a jury) from rendering a verdict by refusing to agree with the others.

Informal . to cause (a nickname, epithet, etc.) to become associated with a person

Friends hung that nickname on him.

Slang . to hit with (a fist, blow, punch, etc.)

He hung a left on his opponent's jaw.

Baseball . to throw (a pitch) so that it fails to break, as a curve.

Nautical . to steady (a boat) in one place against a wind or current by thrusting a pole or the like into the bottom under the boat and allowing the wind or current to push the boat side-on against the pole.

(used in mild curses and emphatic expressions, often as a euphemism for damn )

I'll be hanged if I do. Hang it all!

to be suspended; dangle.

to swing freely, as on a hinge.

to incline downward, jut out, or lean over or forward

The tree hung over the edge of the lake.

to be suspended by the neck, as from a gallows, and suffer death in this way.

to be crucified.

to be conditioned or contingent; be dependent

His future hangs on the outcome of their discussion.

to be doubtful or undecided; waver or hesitate

He hung between staying and going.

to remain unfinished or undecided; be delayed

Let that matter hang until our next meeting.

to linger, remain, or persist

He hung by her side, unwilling to leave.

to float or hover in the air

Fog hung over the city.

to be oppressive, burdensome, or tedious

guilt that hangs on one's conscience.

to remain in attention or consideration (often fol. by on or upon )

They hung on his every word.

to fit or drape in graceful lines

That coat hangs well in back.

Fine Arts .

to be exhibited

His works hang in most major museums.

to have one's works on display

Rembrandt hangs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Informal . to hang out.

the way in which a thing hangs.

Informal . the precise manner of doing, using, etc., something; knack

to get the hang of a tool.

Informal . meaning or thought

to get the hang of a subject.

Nautical .

loss of way due to adverse wind or current.

a rake, as of a mast.

the least degree of care, concern, etc. (used in mild curses and emphatic expressions as a euphemism for damn )

He doesn't give a hang about those things.

hang around or about, Informal .

to spend time in a certain place or in certain company

He hangs around with an older crowd.

to linger about; loiter

They had stopped working and were just hanging around to talk.

hang back,

to be reluctant to proceed or move forward

The older pupils went straight to the podium, but the younger ones hung back out of shyness.

to refrain from taking action; hesitate

A forward pass would have been the best call, but the quarterback hung back because his last pass had been intercepted.

hang in, Slang . to persevere

She has managed to hang in despite years of bad luck. Also, hang in there.

hang on,

to hold fast; cling to.

to continue with effort; persevere

If you can hang on for a month longer, you will be eligible for the bonus.

to be sustained to the point of danger, tedium, etc.

coughs that hang on for months.

to keep a telephone line open

Hang on, I'll see if she's here.

to wait briefly; keep calm.

hang out,

to lean or be suspended through an opening.

Informal . to frequent a particular place, esp. in idling away one's free time

to hang out in a bar.

Informal . to loiter in public places

nothing to do on Saturday night but hang out.

Informal . to consort or appear in public with

Who's she been hanging out with?

Slang . to calm down

Hang out, Mom, I'm OK.

to wait, esp. briefly

Hang out a minute while I get my backpack.

to suspend in open view; display

to hang out the flag.

hang over,

to remain to be settled; be postponed

They will probably let the final decision hang over until next year.

to be imminent or foreboding; threaten

Economic ruin hangs over the town.

hang up,

to suspend by placing on a hook, peg, or hanger.

to cause or encounter delay; suspend or slow the progress of

The accident hung up the traffic for several hours.

to break a telephone connection by replacing the receiver on the hook

She received an anonymous call, but the party hung up when she threatened to call the police.

to cause a hang-up or hang-ups in

The experience hung her up for years.

hang a left (or right ), Slang . to make a left (or right) turn

as while driving an automobile

Hang a right at the next corner.

hang five

to ride a surfboard with the weight of the body forward and the toes of the forward foot curled over the front edge of the surfboard.

hang in the balance

to be in a precarious state or condition

The wounded man's life hung in the balance.

hang it up, Informal . to quit, resign, give up

etc.

The chief engineer is hanging it up after 40 years with the company.

hang loose

Slang . to remain relaxed or calm

Try to hang loose and don't let it bother you.

hang one on

Slang .

to hit

He hung one on the bully and knocked him down.

to become extremely drunk

Every payday he hangs one on.

hang one's head. head ( def. 66 ) .

hang ten

to ride a surfboard with the weight of the body as far forward as possible and the toes of both feet curled over the front edge of the surfboard.

hang together

to be loyal to one another; remain united

We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.

to cohere

This pancake batter doesn't hang together.

to be logical or consistent

His version of the story does not hang together.

hang tough, Slang . to remain unyielding, stubborn

or inflexible

He's hanging tough and won't change his mind.

let it all hang out

Slang .

to be completely candid in expressing one's feelings, opinions, etc.

She's never been one to let it all hang out.

to act or live without restraint or inhibitions.

verb

adhere , attach , beetle , be fastened , be in mid-air , be loose , bend , be pendent , be poised , bow , cling , cover , dangle , deck , decorate , depend , drape , drift , droop , drop , fasten , fix , flap , float , flop , furnish , hold , hover , impend , incline , lean , loll , lop , lower , nail , overhang , pin , project , remain , rest , sag , stay up , stick , swing , tack , trail , wave , execute , gibbet , hoist , lynch , noose , scrag , send to the gallows , stretch * , string up * , swing * , await , be conditional upon , be contingent on , be dependent on , be determined by , be in limbo , be in suspense , hinge , pend , turn on , sling , suspend , poise , append , inclination , pendulate , slope , stretch , threaten

phrasal verb

haunt , repair , resort , consort , fraternize , hobnob , run , troop , depend on , hang upon , hinge on , rest on , turn on , turn upon , carry on , go on , keep on , persevere , persist , hang around , brew , impend , loom , lower , menace , overhang , detain , hold up , lag , retard , set back , slow , stall , hang on

noun

feel , knack , trick