'Hanging' definitions:

Definition of 'hanging'

(from WordNet)
noun
Decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window; "the cold castle walls were covered with hangings" [syn: hanging, wall hanging]
noun
A form of capital punishment; victim is suspended by the neck from a gallows or gibbet until dead; "in those days the hanging of criminals was a public entertainment"
noun
The act of suspending something (hanging it from above so it moves freely); "there was a small ceremony for the hanging of the portrait" [syn: suspension, dangling, hanging]

Definition of 'Hanging'

From: GCIDE
  • Hang \Hang\ (h[a^]ng), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hanged (h[a^]ngd) or Hung (h[u^]ng); p. pr. & vb. n. Hanging.
  • Usage: The use of hanged is preferable to that of hung, when reference is had to death or execution by suspension, and it is also more common.] [OE. hangen, hongien, v. t. & i., AS. hangian, v. i., fr. h[=o]n, v. t. (imp. heng, p. p. hongen); akin to OS. hang[=o]n, v. i., D. hangen, v. t. & i., G. hangen, v. i, h[aum]ngen, v. t., Icel. hanga, v. i., Goth. h[=a]han, v. t. (imp. ha['i]hah), h[=a]han, v. i. (imp. hahaida), and perh. to L. cunctari to delay. [root]37. ]
  • 1. To suspend; to fasten to some elevated point without support from below; -- often used with up or out; as, to hang a coat on a hook; to hang up a sign; to hang out a banner. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To fasten in a manner which will allow of free motion upon the point or points of suspension; -- said of a pendulum, a swing, a door, gate, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To fit properly, as at a proper angle (a part of an implement that is swung in using), as a scythe to its snath, or an ax to its helve. [U. S.] [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To put to death by suspending by the neck; -- a form of capital punishment; as, to hang a murderer. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To cover, decorate, or furnish by hanging pictures, trophies, drapery, and the like, or by covering with paper hangings; -- said of a wall, a room, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • Hung be the heavens with black. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • And hung thy holy roofs with savage spoils. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. To paste, as paper hangings, on the walls of a room. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. To hold or bear in a suspended or inclined manner or position instead of erect; to droop; as, he hung his head in shame. [1913 Webster]
  • Cowslips wan that hang the pensive head. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. To prevent from reaching a decision, esp. by refusing to join in a verdict that must be unanimous; as, one obstinate juror can hang a jury. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  • To hang down, to let fall below the proper position; to bend down; to decline; as, to hang down the head, or, elliptically, to hang the head.
  • To hang fire (Mil.), to be slow in communicating fire through the vent to the charge; as, the gun hangs fire; hence, to hesitate, to hold back as if in suspense. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Hanging'

From: GCIDE
  • Hanging \Hang"ing\, n.
  • 1. The act of suspending anything; the state of being suspended. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Death by suspension; execution by a halter. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. That which is hung as lining or drapery for the walls of a room, as tapestry, paper, etc., or to cover or drape a door or window; -- used chiefly in the plural. [1913 Webster]
  • Now purple hangings clothe the palace walls. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Hanging'

From: GCIDE
  • Hanging \Hang"ing\, a.
  • 1. Requiring, deserving, or foreboding death by the halter. "What a hanging face!" --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Suspended from above; pendent; as, hanging shelves. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Adapted for sustaining a hanging object; as, the hanging post of a gate, the post which holds the hinges. [1913 Webster]
  • Hanging compass, a compass suspended so that the card may be read from beneath.
  • Hanging garden, a garden sustained at an artificial elevation by any means, as by the terraces at Babylon.
  • Hanging indentation. See under Indentation.
  • Hanging rail (Arch.), that rail of a door or casement to which hinges are attached.
  • Hanging side (Mining), the overhanging side of an inclined or hading vein.
  • Hanging sleeves. (a) Strips of the same stuff as the gown, hanging down the back from the shoulders. (b) Loose, flowing sleeves.
  • Hanging stile. (Arch.) (a) That stile of a door to which hinges are secured. (b) That upright of a window frame to which casements are hinged, or in which the pulleys for sash windows are fastened.
  • Hanging wall (Mining), the upper wall of inclined vein, or that which hangs over the miner's head when working in the vein. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'hanging'

From: Easton
  • Hanging (as a punishment), a mark of infamy inflicted on the dead bodies of criminals (Deut. 21:23) rather than our modern mode of punishment. Criminals were first strangled and then hanged (Nu. 25:4; Deut. 21:22). (See 2 Sam. 21:6 for the practice of the Gibeonites.)
  • Hanging (as a curtain).
  • Heb. masak, (a) before the entrance to the court of the tabernacle (Ex. 35:17); (b) before the door of the tabernacle (26:36, 37); (c) before the entrance to the most holy place, called "the veil of the covering" (35:12; 39:34), as the word properly means.
  • Heb. kelaim, tapestry covering the walls of the tabernacle (Ex. 27:9; 35:17; Num. 3:26) to the half of the height of the wall (Ex. 27:18; comp. 26:16). These hangings were fastened to pillars.
  • Heb. bottim (2 Kings 23:7), "hangings for the grove" (R.V., "for the Asherah"); marg., instead of "hangings," has "tents" or "houses." Such curtained structures for idolatrous worship are also alluded to in Ezek. 16:16.

Synonyms of 'hanging'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Hanging'