Home / Dictionary / Shack

Shack Very Common

Shack has 8 different meanings across 3 categories:

Noun · Verb · Proper Noun

Definitions
Noun
1

small crude shelter used as a dwelling

"The old fisherman lived in a dilapidated shack on the edge of the harbor."

2

A crude, roughly built hut or cabin.

"After the combine finished its work, the crew began sweeping up the loose grain shack from the field."

3

Grain fallen to the ground and left after harvest.

In plain English: A shack is a small, poorly built house made of cheap materials that looks rough and uncomfortable to live in.

"We rented an old shack by the lake for our summer vacation."

Usage: Use this word primarily when referring to a crudely constructed hut rather than agricultural debris. Do not confuse it with "shackles," which are chains used for restraint.

Verb
1

make one's home in a particular place or community

"may parents reside in Florida"

2

move, proceed, or walk draggingly or slowly

"John trailed behind his class mates"

"The Mercedes trailed behind the horse cart"

3

To live (in or with); to shack up.

"The heavy rain caused the ripe wheat to shack onto the muddy field before the farmers could gather it."

4

To shed or fall, as corn or grain at harvest.

In plain English: To shack something means to attach it loosely so that it can move freely without being fixed tightly in place.

"The stormy weather forced us to shack out in an abandoned cabin for the night."

Proper Noun
1

A surname​.

"Shack was born into a wealthy family but chose to live as a humble farmer."

Example Sentences
"We rented an old shack by the lake for our summer vacation." noun
"The old shack by the river had fallen into disrepair after years of neglect." noun
"We spent the night in a tiny shack while hiking through the mountains." noun
"Their family lived in a small shack at the edge of town until they could save enough money to build a house." noun
"The stormy weather forced us to shack out in an abandoned cabin for the night." verb
See Also
shotgun house live shackless shacky shed hut shacklike shacked
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
shelter populate travel
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
igloo mudhif rusticate

Origin

The origin of "shack" is unknown, though some experts suggest it comes from the Mexican Spanish word jacal, which itself derives from Nahuatl for an adobe hut. Others believe the term evolved from related words like "ramshackle" or was formed by shortening "shackly."

Rhyming Words
ack cack fack yack lack rack nack mack hack tack zack gack pack back sack wack jack slack chack wrack
Compare
Shack vs