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happen
hang gliding
hang gliding n [U] the sport of gliding (GLIDE (2b)) using a
large KITE (a hang glider) instead of a plane
hang-ing¹ /'hæŋɪŋ/ n 1 [U] the punishment in which death
is caused by hanging a person from a rope round the neck:
When was hanging abolished here? 2 [C] a death of this
type: There have been no hangings in Britain for many years.
hanging² adj [A] 1 connected with the punishment of peo-
ple by hanging: a hanging offence (=crime punishable by
death) | a hanging judge (=a severe judge in times past who
often ordered people to be hanged) 2 it's/that's no hanging
matter infml the problem, or your mistake, is not as bad as
you think it is
hanging 'basket n a basket with plants growing in it that
is hung on the outside of a building as decoration
hang-ings /'hæŋɪz/ n [P] curtains and any other materials
hanging over the walls, windows, doors etc of a house: wall
hangings
hang-man /'hæŋmən/ n pl. -men /mən/ the person whose
work is hanging criminals
hang-nail /'hæŋneɪl/ n a piece of skin that has come loose
near the bottom of the fingernail where it grows out from
the skin
hang-out /'hæŋaʊt/ n slang a place that a person lives in or
often visits: one of my favourite hangouts ➜ see also HANG
OUT
hang-over /'hæŋəʊvə/ n 1 the feeling of headache, sick-
ness etc the day after drinking too much alcohol 2 [(from)] a
condition or effect resulting from an earlier event or situa-
tion: The licensing laws are a hangover from wartime.
Hang Seng In-dex, the /hæŋ 'seŋ ɪndeks/ a number
that shows how well or badly SHARES in companies have
performed on the STOCK EXCHANGE in Hong Kong on a
particular day. The number is based on the share prices of
large companies. ➜ see also DOW JONES AVERAGE, FT 100
SHARE INDEX, NIKKEI INDEX
hang-up n infml something that a person gets unusually
worried about, perhaps without good reason: She's got a real
hang-up about her appearance. ➜ see also HANG UP
Ha-ni, Chris /'ha:ni, krɪs/ (1942-93) a black South African
politician who was a leading member of the ANC and the
South African Communist Party. Many people thought that
he would become leader of the ANC after Nelson MANDELA,
but he was murdered by a white EXTREMIST.
han-ker /'hæŋkə/ v
hanker after/for sthg. phr v [T] infml to have a strong wish
for (usually something one cannot have); YEARN for: He's
lonely and hankers after friendship.
han-ker-ing /'hæŋkərɪŋ/ n [(for, after)] infml a strong wish;
LONGING: a hankering after fame and wealth
han-kie, -ky /'hæŋki/ n infml a handkerchief
Hanks, Tom /hæŋks/ (1956-) a US film actor whose films
include Sleepless in Seattle (1992), Forrest Gump (1994), and
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
hank-y-pank-y /hæŋki 'pæŋki/ n [U] infml, often humor cheat-
ing or deceit or sexually improper behaviour of a not very
serious kind: a bit of hanky-panky at the office party
Han-na Bar-be-ra /hænə 'bə:bərəl-'bær-/ two CARTOON-
ISTS William Hanna (1910-2001) and Joe Barbera (1911-), who
worked together for almost 50 years to make many popular
CARTOONS, including TOM AND JERRY, THE FLINTSTONES, and
YOGI BEAR
Han-ni-bal /'hænɪbəl/ (247-183 BC) a GENERAL who led the
army of CARTHAGE in its war against the ROMANS between
218 and 201 BC. Hannibal is known especially for having
crossed the ALPS into Italy with a large army and 37
ELEPHANTS.
Ha-noi /hæ'nɔɪ/ the capital city of Vietnam, on the Red River
Han-o-ver-i-an /hænəʊ'vɪəriən/ adj of or supporting the
line of English kings and queens which originally came
from Hanover and ruled from 1714 to 1901: George III was a
Hanoverian king.
Han-rat-ty, James /hæn'ræti/ (1936-1962) a British criminal
who was EXECUTED in 1962 for killing a man in a car on the
A6 road, although many people believe he was not guilty
and some are still trying to obtain a PARDON for him
Han-sard /'hænsə:dɪl-sərd/ the official written record of
what happens in the British Parliament ➜ compare CON-
GRESSIONAL RECORD
Han-se-at-ic League, the /hænsiætɪk 'li:g/ a trade
organization of German towns which existed from the 13th
to the 17th centuries to protect each other against competi-
tion from abroad. Bremen, Hamburg, and Lübeck are still
known as Hanseatic cities.
Han-sel and Gret-el /hænsəl ənd 'gretl/ the two main
characters in the FAIRY TALE Hansel and Gretel by the BROTH-
ERS GRIMM. Hansel and Gretel are a brother and sister who get
lost in a forest. They find a house made of GINGERBREAD,
which is owned by an evil WITCH who likes to catch children
and eat them. When the witch tries to cook Hansel, Gretel
pushes her into the OVEN, and Hansel and Gretel escape with
the witch's money and jewels.
han-som /'hænsəm/ also 'hansom cab n a two-wheeled
horse-drawn carriage whose driver sits on a high outside seat
at the back, used until early in the 20th century, usually as a
kind of taxi
Han-son, Pau-line /'hænsən, 'pɔ:li:n/ (1954-) an Australian
politician who started the RIGHT-WING One Nation Party in
1997. She wanted to end the laws against gun ownership
and DISCRIMINATION and this caused her political opponents
to accuse her of making RACIST statements. She was defeated
in an election in 1998 and in 2002 she RETIRED from
politics.
Hanson plc /'hænsən pi: el: si:/ trademark a British company,
started by Lord Hanson, which produces building materials
and equipment. It operates in many countries around the
world, including the UK, the US, and Australia.
Ha-nuk-kah, Chanukah /'hɒnʊkə/ an eight-day Jewish
holiday marking an ancient victory in Israel, when Jewish
children get presents
hap-haz-ard /hæp'hæzəd || -ərd/ adj happening in an
unplanned disorderly manner: The town grew in a haphaz-
ard way. ➜ -ly adv
hap-less /'hæpləs/ adj [A] poet unlucky: a hapless lover
hap-ly /'hæpli/ adv lit or old use perhaps: 'Haply I may remember,
And haply may forget.' (Christina Rossetti)
hap'orth /'heɪpəθl-ərθ/ n [(of)] old-fash BrE a HALFPENNYWORTH
hap-pen¹ /'hæpən/ v [I] 1 (of an event or situation) to come
into existence, especially without being planned; OCCUR:
What time did the accident happen? | No one knew who had
fired the gun – it all happened so quickly. | I can't understand
how this happened. | They keep saying inflation will fall soon,
but it hasn't happened yet. ➜ see also HAPPEN TO 2 to be the
result of an event or course of action: She pressed hard on the
brake but nothing happened. | What would happen if your
parents found out? 3 to be or do by or as if by chance: [+to-v]
I happened to see her on my way to work. | If you happen to
find it, please let me know. | [it+I+(that)] It happened that they
were out when we called. | They were out as it happened. |
(used to show annoyance or to give force to a statement) I
happen to like her, so don't be so rude about her. | That
happens to be my car you're leaning on. | It just so happens
that you're wrong.
Compare happen, occur and take place. Events
usually happen or (more formal) occur by accident:
When did the explosion happen/occur? Events usually
take place by arrangement: When will the wedding take
place?
happen on/upon sbdy./sthg. phr v [T no pass.] to find or
meet by chance: I happened on an old country inn, and
stopped to have a meal.
happen to sbdy./sthg. phr v [T no pass.] (of an event) to take