/ həʊks; NAmE hoʊks/ noun , verb
■ noun
an act intended to make sb believe sth that is not true, especially sth unpleasant :
a bomb hoax
hoax calls
■ verb
[ vn ] to trick sb by making them believe sth that is not true, especially sth unpleasant
► hoax·er noun
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WORD ORIGIN
late 18th cent. (as a verb): probably a contraction of hocus .