Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To connect or link physically: To join together components, devices, or systems, often involving wires, pipes, or other physical means to establish a functional connection.
   • To connect or link socially: To meet or become associated with someone, often for a casual social or romantic encounter.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To form a connection or partnership: To become connected or linked, either physically or socially.

Usage Examples

• Verb (transitive):

  • The technician will hook up the new printer to the office network. (This demonstrates connecting a device.)
  • They managed to hook up the trailer to the car. (This shows linking two physical objects.)
  • I heard they hooked up at the party last weekend. (This illustrates the informal social/romantic meaning.)

• Verb (intransitive):

  • Our video call keeps failing because the camera won't hook up properly. (This indicates a device forming a connection.)
  • The two companies hooked up to work on the project. (This shows forming a partnership.)

Advanced Usage

• "to get hooked up": To become connected or to obtain something, often through social connections.

  • He got hooked up with tickets to the concert through a friend. (He obtained tickets via a personal connection.)

• "to be hooked up to": To be physically connected to a machine or system, often in a medical or technical context.

  • The patient was hooked up to a heart monitor. (The patient was connected to medical equipment.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hook-up (noun): An instance of connecting devices or a casual social/romantic encounter.

  • The satellite hook-up was completed successfully.
  • It was just a casual hook-up.

• Hookup (noun): A less common variant spelling of "hook-up".

Synonyms

• Connect: To join or link together.
• Link: To make a connection between things.
• Couple: To connect or associate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Hook up with (someone): To meet or join someone, often spontaneously.

  • Let's hook up with the others later for dinner. (Let's meet the others.)

• Hook up to (something): To connect a device to a power source or network.

  • You need to hook up the modem to the phone line. (You need to connect it.)

Related Idioms

• "Hooked on": This is a related but distinct idiom meaning addicted to or very enthusiastic about something.
  • He's hooked on that new TV series. (He is very enthusiastic/addicted to it.)

Note: The social/romantic meaning of "hook up" is informal and its implied level of intimacy can vary greatly depending on context.

Verb

1. connect or link
   • hook up the houses to the gas supply line
   • Hook up the components of the new sound system