Lash

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /læʃ/
• Rhymes: -æʃ

Full definition of lash

Noun

1. The thong or braided cord of a whip, with which the blow is given.I observed that your whip wanted a lash to it. — Joseph Addison.
2. (obsolete) A leash in which an animal is caught or held; hence, a snare.
3. A stroke with a whip, or anything pliant and tough.The culprit received thirty-nine lashes.
4. A stroke of satire or sarcasm; an expression or retort that cuts or gives pain; a cut.The moral is a lash at the vanity of arrogating that to ourselves which succeeds well. — Roger L'Estrange
5. A hair growing from the edge of the eyelid; an eyelash.
6. In carpet weaving, a group of strings for lifting simultaneously certain yarns, to form the figure.

Verb

1. (transitive) To strike with a lash; to whip or scourge with a lash, or with something like one.We lash the pupil, and defraud the ward. — John Dryden
2. (transitive) To strike forcibly and quickly, as with a lash; to beat, or beat upon, with a motion like that of a lash.the whale lashes the sea with its tail.And big waves lash the frighted shores. — John Dryden
• 2010, December 29, Chris Whyatt, Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton, Carlo Ancelotti's out-of-sorts team struggled to hit the target in the first half as Bolton threatened with Matthew Taylor lashing just wide.
3. (transitive) To throw out with a jerk or quickly.He falls, and lashing up his heels, his rider throws. — John Dryden
4. (transitive) To scold; to berate; to satirize; to censure with severity.to lash vice
5. (transitive) To bind with a rope, cord, thong, or chain, so as to fasten.to lash something to a sparlash a pack on a horse's back
6. (intransitive) To ply the whip; to strike.
7. (intransitive) To utter censure or sarcastic language.To laugh at follies, or to lash at vice. — John Dryden
8. (intransitive, of rain) To fall heavily, especially in the phrase lash down
• 2011, October 1, Tom Fordyce, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 16-12 Scotland, With rain lashing across the ground at kick-off and every man in Auckland seemingly either English-born or supporting Scotland, Eden Park was transformed into Murrayfield in March.

From Old French lasche (French lâche).

Adjective

1. (obsolete) Remiss, lax.
2. (obsolete) Relaxed.
3. Soft, watery, wet.
• 1658: Fruits being unwholesome and lash before the fourth or fifth Yeare. — Sir Thomas Browne, The Garden of Cyrus (Folio Society 2007, p. 211)
4. (Mid-Ulster, Northern Ireland) excellent, wonderful''We’re off school tomorrow, it’s gonna be lash!That chinese (food) was lash!
5. Drunk.