Hawk

/ˈhɔːk/ · noun

Meaning

A diurnal predatory bird of the family Accipitridae, smaller than an eagle..

Definitions by Sense

1. A diurnal predatory bird of the family Accipitridae, smaller than an eagle.
2. Any diurnal predatory terrestrial bird of similar size and appearance to the accipitrid hawks, such as a falcon.
3. (entomology) Any of various species of dragonfly of the genera Apocordulia and Austrocordulia, endemic to Australia.
4. (politics) An advocate of aggressive political positions and actions.
5. (game theory) An uncooperative or purely selfish participant in an exchange or game, especially when untrusting, acquisitive or treacherous. Refers specifically to the prisoner's dilemma, a.k.a. the Hawk-Dove game.
6. (US, especially Chicago, and nationwide in African-American, often with "the") Cold, sharp or biting wind.
7. (transitive) To hunt with a hawk.
8. (intransitive) To make an attack while on the wing; to soar and strike like a hawk.

Example Sentences

It is illegal to hunt hawks or other raptors in many parts of the world.

He made his hawke to fly, With hogeous showte and cry.

A hawk by nature, Ellenborough strongly favoured presenting St Petersburg with an ultimatum warning that any further incursions into Persia would be regarded as a hostile act.

“Everybody knows who were the hawks and who were the doves,” Bundy told the ExComm on the morning of October 28, after Khrushchev announced that he was withdrawing his missiles. “Today was the day of the doves.”

President Donald Trump has spent years playing the role of a China hawk.

[…] take-out sandwich from Arnie's on Jackson, then a brisk walk to Michigan Avenue in the face of the "Hawk," blowing newspapers and skirts and the gulls wheeling over the Michigan Avenue Bridge in front of […]

[…] a hand-fired coal furnace that required little attention and kept the cottage coy in spite of "the hawk" blowing icy blasts outside. So in spite of Thumper's continuing discomfort we enjoyed a fairly merry Christmas. But then the base daily bulletin was published with the roster of OGs (officers of the guard) for the[…]

I wanna learn by Ruby's birthday party." Pride turned up his collar against the hawk blowing from the river."

Synonyms for hawk

Antonyms for hawk

Related Words

Word Forms

• hawks
• hawking
• hawked

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions