1. People who hack into telephone systems, especially to make free long-distance calls or to explore the network.
Usage: slang; informal; computing/telecommunications jargon; often used in plural

1. To hack into or manipulate telephone systems illegally or without authorization.
Usage: slang; informal; computing jargon; third-person singular present tense or plural form

Examples

• In the 1970s, phreaks discovered ways to bypass telephone company security systems.
• The group of phreaks used blue boxes to manipulate the phone network.
• He phreaks into the telephone system to make unauthorized calls.
• Early computer enthusiasts and phreaks shared techniques online.
• The phreaks were eventually caught by federal investigators.