hacking
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.the act of using a computer to illegally get into someone else's system or information.
n.the practice of gaining unauthorized access to data in a system or computer.
Simple“The company improved its security after a hacking incident last year.”
In context“State-sponsored hacking has become a significant concern for national security agencies tasked with protecting critical infrastructure.”
Usageuncountable in this sense
Synonymscyberattackintrusion - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.using clever or creative ways to fix technical problems or improve a computer system.
n.the act of engaging in clever, creative, or playful technical work, particularly in programming or electronics.
Simple“He spent the weekend hacking together a new app for his phone.”
In context“The culture of hacking at the university encouraged students to find elegant solutions to complex hardware limitations.”
Usageuncountable in this sense
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a type of short, dry, and repeated cough.
n.the act of emitting a succession of short, dry coughs.
Simple“The cold weather gave him a nasty hacking cough that lasted for weeks.”
In context“The patient presented with a persistent hacking cough, though the chest X-ray showed no signs of acute infection.”
Usageoften used as 'a hacking cough'
Synonyms - 04 B1 Intermediate
v.cutting or hitting something with heavy, rough movements.
v.the action of cutting or striking something with repeated, irregular blows.
Simple“They spent the afternoon hacking through the thick bushes in the garden.”
In context“The explorers were exhausted after hours of hacking through the dense jungle undergrowth with their machetes.”
Usagepresent participle of the verb 'hack'
- 05 C2 Proficiency
adj.describing something that is short, interrupted, or not smooth.
adj.characterized by short, interrupted, or jerky movements or sounds.
Simple“The old engine made a hacking sound before it finally stopped working.”
In context“The witness described the suspect's movements as hacking and unnatural, as if he were struggling against his own limbs.”
From Middle English *hackynge, hackande, hakand, equivalent to hack + -ing.
From Middle English hackynge, hakkynge, hacckinge, equivalent to hack + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.