a curved or angular piece of metal or other hard substance for catching, pulling, holding, or suspending something.

a fishhook.

anything that catches; snare; trap.

something that attracts attention or serves as an enticement

The product is good but we need a sales hook to get people to buy it.

something having a sharp curve, bend, or angle at one end, as a mark or symbol.

a sharp curve or angle in the length or course of anything.

a curved arm of land jutting into the water; a curved peninsula

Sandy Hook.

a recurved and pointed organ or appendage of an animal or plant.

a small curved catch inserted into a loop to form a clothes fastener.

Sports .

the path described by a ball, as in baseball, bowling, or golf, that curves in a direction opposite to the throwing hand or to the side of the ball from which it was struck.

a ball describing such a path.

Boxing . a short, circular punch delivered with the elbow bent.

Music .

Also called pennant. a stroke or line attached to the stem of eighth notes, sixteenth notes, etc.

an appealing melodic phrase, orchestral ornament, refrain, etc., often important to a popular song's commercial success.

Metalworking . an accidental short bend formed in a piece of bar stock during rolling.

hooks, Slang . hands or fingers

Get your hooks off that cake!

Underworld Slang . a pickpocket.

Also called deck hook. Nautical . a triangular plate or knee that binds together the stringers and plating at each end of a vessel.

to seize, fasten, suspend from, pierce, or catch hold of and draw with or as if with a hook.

to catch (fish) with a fishhook.

Slang . to steal or seize by stealth.

Informal . to catch or trick by artifice; snare.

(of a bull or other horned animal) to catch on the horns or attack with the horns.

to catch hold of and draw (loops of yarn) through cloth with or as if with a hook.

to make (a rug, garment, etc.) in this fashion.

Sports . to hit or throw (a ball) so that a hook results.

Boxing . to deliver a hook with

The champion hooked a right to his opponent's jaw.

Rugby . to push (a ball) backward with the foot in scrummage from the front line.

to make hook-shaped; crook.

to become attached or fastened by or as if by a hook.

to curve or bend like a hook.

Sports .

(of a player) to hook the ball.

(of a ball) to describe a hook in course.

Slang . to depart hastily

We'd better hook for home.

hook up,

to fasten with a hook or hooks.

to assemble or connect, as the components of a machine

to hook up a stereo system.

to connect to a central source, as of power or water

The house hasn't been hooked up to the city's water system yet.

Informal . to join or become associated with

He never had a decent job until he hooked up with this company.

by hook or by crook, by any means, whether just or unjust, legal or illegal. Also

by hook or crook.

get or give the hook

Informal . to receive or subject to a dismissal

The rumor is that he got the hook.

hook it

Slang . to run away; depart; flee

He hooked it when he saw the truant officer.

hook, line, and sinker

Informal . entirely; completely

He fell for the storyhook, line, and sinker.

off the hook

out of trouble; released from some difficulty

This time there was no one around to get him off the hook.

free of obligation

His brother paid all his bills and got him off the hook.

on one's own hook

Informal . on one's own initiative or responsibility; independently.

on the hook

Slang .

obliged; committed; involved

He's already on the hook for

subjected to a delaying tactic; waiting

We've had him on the hook for two weeks now.