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Definition of a hacker

hacker

noun

  • while "hacker" originally had positive connotations, it has since come to refer to individuals who sometimes use computers with malicious intent. For example, a person who breaks into computers that they do not have official access to.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

    Citation from "Reeling in the hackers", The Irish Times, Karlin Lillington, February 19 2010 censored in hope of resolving Google's penalty against this site.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

    Citation from Communications of the ACM, Volume 27 (1984) censored in hope of resolving Google's penalty against this site.

    Last edited on Nov 15 2011. Submitted by Charles B. from Westminster, CO, USA on Jun 16 1999.

  • an expert or enthusiast of any kind, provided it involves hands-on work.
    She calls herself a "culinary hacker."

    Last edited on Nov 15 2011. Submitted by Walter Rader (Editor) from Sacramento, CA, USA on Aug 14 2009.

  • a person who is very good at programming.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

    Citation from Communications of the ACM, Volume 27 (1984) censored in hope of resolving Google's penalty against this site.

    Last edited on Nov 04 2011. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Aug 14 2009.

  • a person who enjoys exploring computers, making them work better than ever before, and making them solve problems that they've never solved before.

    Last edited on Nov 15 2011. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Aug 14 2009.

  • a person who enjoys creatively overcoming or circumventing limitations.
    He's a pretty good padlock hacker.

    Last edited on Nov 15 2011. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Aug 14 2009.

  • a person who is an expert at a particular computer program or computing technology.
    You should ask Tim. He's a real MATLAB hacker.
    I'm trying to become a well-known C++ hacker.

    Last edited on Nov 15 2011. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Aug 14 2009.

  • a person who frequently does work on a computer, using a particular computer program.
    He's a Unix hacker.

    Last edited on Nov 15 2011. Submitted by WalterGR (via TheJargonFile) on Aug 15 2009.

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Related words

Slang terms with the same meaning

Other terms relating to 'an expert, a fan':

Definitions include: to do something stealthy or to move stealthily, possibly involving theft or deception.
Definitions include: alternate spelling of "fanboy".
Definitions include: used with a subject matter to refer to a person with deep, expert knowledge of that subject matter.
Definitions include: crazy.
Definitions include: a male fan devoted to a particular thing.
Definitions include: an expert.
Definitions include: a person who is sexually talented.
Definitions include: See also the man.
Definitions include: an expert at searching Google.
Definitions include: a fan of the movie Avatar.
Definitions include: an expert.
Definitions include: an expert or person one goes to for advice or a paid specialist in a given field.
Definitions include: a fan of Justin Bieber.
Definitions include: a male fan of the cartoon show My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.
Definitions include: a person hired for their expertise.

Other terms relating to 'computer slang':

Definitions include: acronym for "frequently asked question(s)".
Definitions include: to use one or more kludges (as described in the noun sense) to solve a problem.
Definitions include: acronym for "constructive criticism welcome".
Definitions include: in an update or sequel to a video game, to make a weapon weak or weaker, such that it's like a Nerf gun.
Definitions include: acronym for "take your time".
Definitions include: to switch between tasks, requiring one to switch their focus on the new task.
Definitions include: "nothing much".
Definitions include: the pressing of the "Alt" key + the "Ctrl" key + the "Del" key to reboot or unfreeze a PC computer.
Definitions include: a person who writes (source) code; "programmer".
Definitions include: a cable connector device with either two male or two female connectors on it, used to connect mismatched cables.
Definitions include: acronym for "pointy-haired boss".
Definitions include: so compatible that even the known bugs of product A were replicated in the "bug-for-bug compatible" product B.
Definitions include: a person who acts like they know everything but actually knows nothing.
Definitions include: shortened version of "okay, thanks, bye."
Definitions include: "laptop".

Slang terms with the same root words

Other terms relating to 'hack':

Definitions include: to play with a Hacky Sack (footbag.)
Definitions include: extremely mad or irritated.
Definitions include: a system that was created by hacking it up over time.
Definitions include: To engage in any activity intensely, especially to be intent on using one's computer for any purpose, though not necessarily engaging in illegal activity via the internet.
Definitions include: to perform one's duties.
Definitions include: a permit, license or other authority issued by a governmental agency authorizing a person to drive a taxicab in service to customers in that area.
Definitions include: to make a person angry.
Definitions include: to work on a pre-existing problem, program, or piece of source code.
Definitions include: to masturbate
Definitions include: to hack, with the result being something quickly and sloppily created, or modified to solve a particular problem.
Definitions include: to hack, with the result being something quickly and sloppily created, or modified to solve a particular problem.
Definitions include: "hacker".
Definitions include: spelling variant of "hacker".
Definitions include: "leet" spelling of "hacker".
Definitions include: a l33t hax0r.

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