phreak

[ freek ]

noun

, Slang.

1. phone phreak.

verb (used without object)

, phreaked, phreak·ing.

1. to act as a phone phreak.

verb (used with object)

, phreaked, phreak·ing.

1. to tamper with (telephones) as a phone phreak does. Compare spoof ( def 6 ), phish.

Word History and Origins

Origin of phreak¹

First recorded in 1970–75; altered spelling of freak ¹( def 6 ), copying ph- of phone ¹