hang

hangverb

To hang is to be held from above so that the lower part is free, or to put something in that position.

1. from abovefix something at the top so that the lower part is free, or be fixed in this way

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object + adverb [V + obj + adv] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

   • Hang your coat on the hook by the door. V + obj + adv
   • A photo of her grandparents hung on the wall. V + adv/prep
   • Her hair hung down to her waist. V + adv/prep
   • I washed the sheets and hung them out to dry. V + obj + adv

   Collocations

   verb + noun hang a picture, hang your coat, hang the washing, hang curtains

   verb + preposition hang on the wall, hang from the ceiling, hang on a hook, hang over a chair

   verb + adverb hang down, hang loosely

   1. aput things on the walls or across a place to make it look nice

      transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] usually passive [usually passive]

      • The streets were hung with flags for the festival. usually passive
      • They hung colored lights across the garden. V + obj + adv

      Collocations

      verb + preposition be hung with something

2. killkill someone by putting a rope around their neck and letting them drop, especially as a punishment

   In this sense the past tense and past participle are hanged, not hung: he was hanged.

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] usually passive [usually passive] law

   • The prisoner was hanged the next morning. usually passive
   • In the story, the thief is caught and hanged. usually passive

   Collocations

   phrase be hanged for something, be sentenced to hang

3. in the airstay in the air over a place for a long time without moving away

   intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

   • Smoke hung over the city for days. V + adv/prep
   • A thick fog hung over the valley. V + adv/prep

   Collocations

   verb + preposition hang over something, hang in the air

   1. abe present and make people worried or unhappy

      intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

      • The threat of losing their jobs hung over them all year. V + adv/prep
      • A feeling of sadness hung over the house. V + adv/prep

      Collocations

      verb + preposition hang over someone, hang over something

4. computerstop working, so that nothing on the screen changes when you try to use it

   intransitive [I] computing

   • My laptop keeps hanging when I open this program.
   • The screen hung, and I had to restart the computer.

   Collocations

   noun + verb the computer hangs, the program hangs, the screen hangs

   Synonyms freeze; crash

See also hang on; hang out; hang up; hang around