• Whip

    Pronunciation

    • enPR: wÄ­p, IPA: /wɪp/
    • Rhymes: -ɪp
    • enPR: hwÄ­p, IPA: /ʍɪp/

    Origin

    From Middle English hwippen or whippen. Middle High German wipfen, wepfen and Middle Dutch wippen ("to move quickly"), possibly all from a Proto-Germanic *wip. Some similarity to Sanskrit root वेप् (vep, ""), Latin vibrō ("I shake"). (See Swedish vippa and Danish vippe ("to shake")).

    Full definition of whip

    Noun

    whip

    (plural whips)
    1. A lash; a pliant, flexible instrument, such as a rod (commonly of cane or rattan) or a plaited or braided rope or thong (commonly of leather) used to create a sharp "crack" sound for directing or herding animals
      1. Same instrument used to strike a person or animal for corporal punishment or torture.
    2. (hunting) A whipper-in.
      • 1928, Siegfried Sassoon, Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man, Penguin 2013, p. 27:From the far side of the wood came the long shrill screech … which signifies that one of the whips has viewed the fox quitting the covert.
    3. (politics) A member of a political party who is in charge of enforcing the party's policies in votes.
    4. Whipped cream.
    5. (nautical) A purchase in which one block is used to gain a 2:1 mechanical advantage.
    6. (African American Vernacular English) A mode of personal motorized transportation; an automobile, all makes and models including motorcycles, excluding public transportation.
    7. (roller derby) A move in which one player transfers momentum to another.

    Synonyms

    Derived terms

    Terms derived from whip (noun)

    Verb

    1. (transitive) To hit with a whip.The rider whipped the horse.
    2. (transitive) By extension, to hit with any flexible object.I whipped her with a newspaper.
    3. (transitive, slang) To defeat, as in a contest or game.
      • 2008, Edward Keating, The Joy of Ex: A NovelShe whips me in the first game of pool, I do not even get a shot. Eight-balled from the break.
    4. (transitive) To mix in a rapid aerating fashion, especially food.to whip eggs or cream
    5. (transitive) To urge into action.He whipped the department into shape.
    6. (transitive, nautical) To bind the end of a rope with twine or other small stuff to prevent its unlaying: fraying or unravelling.
      • MoxonIts string is firmly whipped about with small gut.
    7. (transitive, nautical) To hoist or purchase by means of a whip.
    8. To sew lightly; specifically, to form (a fabric) into gathers by loosely overcasting the rolled edge and drawing up the thread.to whip a ruffle
      • John GayIn half-whipped muslin needles useless lie.
    9. (transitive) To throw or kick an object at a high velocity.
      • He whipped the ball at me.
      • 2010, December 29, Chris Whyatt, Chelsea 1 - 0 Bolton, Composed play then saw Sam Ricketts nutmeg Ashley Cole before Taylor whipped a fine curling effort over Petr Cech's bar.
    10. (transitive) To fish a body of water especially by making repeated casts.
      • Emersonwhipping their rough surface for a trout
    11. (intransitive) To snap back and forth like a whip.
      • The pennants whipped in the wind.
    12. (intransitive) To move very fast.
      • The wind whipped through the valley.
      • L'EstrangeTwo friends, travelling, met a bear upon the way; the one whips up a tree, and the other throws himself flat upon the ground.
      • 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson, Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr HydeHe looked up when I came in, gave a kind of cry, and whipped upstairs into the cabinet. It was but for one minute that I saw him, but the hair stood upon my head like quills.
    13. (transitive) To move (something) very fast; often with up, out, etc.
      • L'EstrangeShe, in a hurry, whips up her darling under her arm.
      • WalpoleHe whips out his pocketbook every moment, and writes descriptions of everything he sees.
    14. (transitive, roller derby) To transfer momentum from one skater to another.
    15. (figurative) To lash with sarcasm, abuse, etc.
      • ShakespeareThey would whip me with their fine wits.
    16. To thrash; to beat out, as grain, by striking.to whip wheat

    Synonyms

    Derived terms

    Terms derived from whip (verb)
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