hara-kiri /hæ rə k I ri/ N‑UNCOUNT In former times, if a Japanese man committed hara-kiri , he killed himself by cutting his own stomach open, in order to avoid dishonour.
ha|rangue /həræ ŋ/ (harangues , haranguing , harangued ) VERB If someone harangues you, they try to persuade you to accept their opinions or ideas in a forceful way. □ [V n] An argument ensued, with various band members joining in and haranguing Simpson and his girlfriend for over two hours. [Also V ]
har|ass /hæ rəs, həræ s/ (harasses , harassing , harassed ) VERB If someone harasses you, they trouble or annoy you, for example by attacking you repeatedly or by causing you as many problems as they can. □ [V n] A woman reporter complained one of them sexually harassed her in the locker room.
har|assed /hæ rəst, həræ st/ ADJ If you are harassed , you are anxious and tense because you have too much to do or too many problems to cope with. □ This morning, looking harassed and drawn, Lewis tendered his resignation.
har|ass|ment /hæ rəsmənt, həræ s-/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft adj N ] Harassment is behaviour which is intended to trouble or annoy someone, for example repeated attacks on them or attempts to cause them problems. □ The party has accused the police of harassment.
har|bin|ger /hɑː r b I ndʒə r / (harbingers ) N‑COUNT Something that is a harbinger of something else, especially something bad, is a sign that it is going to happen. [LITERARY ] □ [+ of ] The November air stung my cheeks, a harbinger of winter.
har|bour ◆◇◇ /hɑː r bə r / (harbours , harbouring , harboured ) in AM, use harbor 1 N‑COUNT A harbour is an area of the sea at the coast which is partly enclosed by land or strong walls, so that boats can be left there safely. □ She led us to a room with a balcony overlooking the harbour.
2 VERB If you harbour an emotion, thought, or secret, you have it in your mind over a long period of time. □ [V n] He might have been murdered by a former client or someone harbouring a grudge.
3 VERB If a person or country harbours someone who is wanted by the police, they let them stay in their house or country and offer them protection. □ [V n] Accusations of harbouring suspects were raised against the former leadership.
har|bour|master /hɑː r bə r mɑːstə r , -mæs-/ (harbourmasters ) also harbour master in AM, use harbormaster or harbor master N‑COUNT A harbourmaster is the official in charge of a harbour.
hard ◆◆◆ /hɑː r d/ (harder , hardest )
1 ADJ Something that is hard is very firm and stiff to touch and is not easily bent, cut, or broken. □ He shuffled his feet on the hard wooden floor. □ Something cold and hard pressed into the back of his neck. ● hard|ness N‑UNCOUNT [oft with poss] □ [+ of ] He felt the hardness of the iron railing press against his spine.
2 ADJ [ADJ to-inf] Something that is hard is very difficult to do or deal with. □ It's hard to tell what effect this latest move will have. □ Our traveller's behaviour on the journey is hard to explain. □ That's a very hard question.
3 ADV [ADV after v] If you work hard doing something, you are very active or work intensely, with a lot of effort. □ I'll work hard. I don't want to let him down. □ Am I trying too hard? ● ADJ [ADJ n] Hard is also an adjective. □ I admired him as a true scientist and hard worker.
4 ADJ Hard work involves a lot of activity and effort. □ Coping with three babies is very hard work. □ Their work is hard and unglamorous, and most people would find it boring.
5 ADV [ADV after v] If you look, listen, or think hard , you do it carefully and with a great deal of attention. □ You had to listen hard to hear the old man breathe. ● ADJ [usu ADJ n] Hard is also an adjective. □ It might be worth taking a long hard look at your frustrations and resentments.
6 ADV [ADV after v] If you strike or take hold of something hard , you strike or take hold of it with a lot of force. □ I kicked a dustbin very hard and broke my toe. ● ADJ [ADJ n] Hard is also an adjective. □ He gave her a hard push which toppled her backwards into an armchair.
7 ADV [ADV after v] You can use hard to indicate that something happens intensely and for a long time. □ I've never seen Terry laugh so hard. □ It was snowing hard by then.
8 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If a person or their expression is hard , they show no kindness or sympathy. □ His father was a hard man.
9 ADJ If you are hard on someone, you treat them severely or unkindly. □ [+ on ] Don't be so hard on him. ● ADV [ADV after v] Hard is also an adverb. □ He said the security forces would continue to crack down hard on the protestors.
10 ADJ If you say that something is hard on a person or thing, you mean it affects them in a way that is likely to cause them damage or suffering. □ [+ on ] The grey light was hard on the eyes. □ [+ on ] These last four years have been hard on them.
11 ADJ If you have a hard life or a hard period of time, your life or that period is difficult and unpleasant for you. □ It had been a hard life for her. □ Those were hard times. ● hard|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] In America, people don't normally admit to the hardness of life.
12 ADJ [ADJ n] Hard evidence or facts are definitely true and do not need to be questioned. □ There are probably fewer hard facts about the life of Henry Purcell than that of any other great composer since the Renaissance.