ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hash

n. · v.
US //ˈhæʃ// UK //hˈæʃ// hash
  1. 1 chopped food (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Cooking

    a dish made of meat and potatoes chopped into small pieces and fried together.

    a culinary dish consisting of diced meat, potatoes, and spices, typically sautéed together.

    Example

    We had a simple breakfast of corned beef hash and eggs.

    Example

    The chef prepared a rustic hash using leftover roasted root vegetables and smoked brisket from the previous evening's service.
  2. 2 the # symbol (n.)
    B1 Intermediate British English

    the symbol #, often used on social media or telephones.

    the character #, also known as an octothorpe or pound sign, frequently used in social media tagging and telecommunications.

    Example

    To join the conversation on Twitter, use the hash symbol before the keyword.

    Example

    In the United Kingdom, the symbol is commonly referred to as a hash, whereas American speakers typically identify it as a pound sign.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the context of 'hashtags' on digital platforms.
    • octothorpe
    • pound sign
    • number sign
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  1. 3 cannabis drug (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Informal

    a strong drug made from the cannabis plant.

    a concentrated form of cannabis produced from the resin of the plant.

    Example

    The police seized a large quantity of hash during the raid.

    Example

    The legislation distinguishes between the possession of raw cannabis leaf and more concentrated derivatives like hash.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a common informal shortening of 'hashish'; learners should be aware of its illegal status in many jurisdictions.
  2. 4 computing data (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    a fixed string of numbers and letters created by a computer to represent data.

    the output generated by a hash function, used to verify data integrity or map data to a fixed size.

    Example

    The website stores a hash of your password rather than the password itself.

    Example

    Cryptographic hashes are essential for blockchain technology, as they ensure that the data within a block has not been tampered with.
  3. 5 to chop up (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Cooking

    to chop something, like meat or vegetables, into very small pieces.

    to mince or chop food into small pieces for cooking.

    Example

    You need to hash the potatoes finely so they cook evenly in the pan.

    Example

    The recipe instructs the cook to hash the remaining turkey meat before folding it into the savory sauce.
  4. 6 to process data (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    to use a computer program to turn data into a fixed string of characters.

    to convert an input of any length into a fixed-size string of text using a specific algorithm.

    Example

    The system will hash the file to check if it was downloaded correctly.

    Example

    By hashing the sensitive user identifiers, the researchers were able to analyze the dataset without compromising individual privacy.
Etymology 1

From French hacher (“to chop”), from Middle French hacher, from Old French hacher, from Old French hache (“axe”), from Frankish *happjā (“axe”). Compare also Old English ġehæċċa (“sausage meat”, literally “that which is hacked or chopped up”).

Etymology 2

Clipping of hashish.

Idioms3 entries

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