The word hack has several meanings:

1. To cut or chop something roughly and with force. You might hack through jungle vines with a machete, or hack away at a frozen lock with an ice pick. When someone coughs roughly and repeatedly, we call it a hacking cough. This meaning captures the idea of rough, forceful action rather than smooth precision.
2. To break into a computer system without permission. A hacker might illegally access someone's email account or break through a company's security systems. Some hackers cause damage or steal information, while others (called “ethical hackers”) are hired to find weaknesses in security systems so companies can fix them before criminals exploit them. When someone's account gets hacked, it means an unauthorized person gained access to it.
3. A clever solution or shortcut that makes something easier. A “life hack” might be a smart way to organize your backpack or remember vocabulary words. These hacks aren't about breaking rules but about finding creative, efficient approaches to everyday problems. Someone might share a hack for peeling hard-boiled eggs faster or keeping earbud cords from tangling.