dangle Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb hang freely
    drop; swing.
    • the ornaments dangled from the tree
    • The light dropped from the ceiling
  2. verb cause to dangle or hang freely
    • He dangled the ornaments from the Christmas tree

WordNet

Dan"gle intransitive verb
Etymology
Akin to Dan. dangle, dial. Sw. dangla, Dan. dingle, Sw. dingla, Icel. dingla; perh. from E. ding.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Dangled ; present participle & verbal noun Dangling
Definitions
  1. To hang loosely, or with a swinging or jerking motion.
    he'd rather on a gibbet dangle Than miss his dear delight, to wrangle. Hudibras.
    From her lifted hand Dangled a length of ribbon. Tennyson.
    The Presbyterians, and other fanatics that dangle after them, are well inclined to pull down the present establishment. Swift.
Dan"gle transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To cause to dangle; to swing, as something suspended loosely; as, to dangle the feet.
    And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume. Sir W. Scott.

Webster 1913