hacking Definition

hack¹
verb hacked, hacking

1. To cut or chop it roughly.

Thesaurus: cut, chop, hew, cleave, gash, slice, lacerate; whack, kick; mangle, mutilate.
Form: hack something down, away (often)
2. To cut (a path, etc) eg through undergrowth.

Form: hack something out (often)
intr
3. colloq
To use a computer with skill, especially to obtain unauthorized access to (someone else's computer files).
Form: hack into something (often)
4. slang
To be able to bear or suffer someone or something.
Example: He can't hack it
intr
5. To cough in short dry spasms.
6. football.rugby.
To kick an opponent on the shins.
7. To cut (a story, article, etc) in a damaging way.

noun

1. A kick on the shins.
2. A wound or rough cut, especially from a kick.
3. A mattock or miner's pick².
4. A short dry cough.
5. A chop or blow.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon tohaccian; 1970s in verb sense 3.

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hack²
noun

1. A horse kept for general riding, especially one for hire.
2. A ride on horseback.
3. An old or worn-out horse.
4. A writer who produces dull, mediocre or routine work.
5. A dogsbody.
(US)
6a. informal
A taxi;
(US)
6b. informal
A cab driver.

verb hacked, hacking

tr & intr
1. To ride a horse at a leisurely pace, usually for pleasure.
2. To write (an article, etc) in a mediocre or tedious manner.
intr
3. To work as a hack.

adj

1. Mediocre, banal or commonplace.

Example: hack writer

Etymology: 17c: short form of hackney.

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hacking¹
adj

1. Said of a cough: rough and dry.

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hacking²
noun

1. colloq
The act or practice of gaining unauthorized access to computer files.

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hacking³
noun

1. The sport of riding on horseback for pleasure.