hang

hang ► VERB (past and past part. hung except in sense 2) 1) suspend or be suspended from above with the lower part not attached. 2) (past and past part. hanged) kill or be killed by tying a rope attached from above around the neck and removing the support from beneath the feet (used as a form of capital punishment). 3) attach so as to allow free movement about the point of attachment: hanging a door. 4) (of fabric or a garment) fall or drape in a specified way. 5) attach (meat or game) to a hook and leave it until dry, tender, or high. 6) remain static in the air. 7) be present or imminent, especially oppressively. 8) paste (wallpaper) to a wall.

► NOUN ▪ the way in which something hangs or is hung.

► EXCLAMATION dated ▪ used in expressions as a mild oath.

● get the hang of — Cf. ↑get the hang of

● hang around — Cf. ↑hang around

● hang back — Cf. ↑hang back

● hang fire — Cf. ↑hang fire

● hang on — Cf. ↑hang on

● hang out — Cf. ↑hang out

● hang up — Cf. ↑hang up

● let it all hang out — Cf. ↑let it all hang out

USAGE In modern English hang has two past tense and past participle forms: hanged and hung. Sometime after the 16th century hung replaced the earlier form hanged in general contexts, as in they hung out the washing , while hanged was, as it still is, retained for use in reference to execution by hanging, as in the prisoner was hanged .

ORIGIN Old English.