I. ˈlash, -aa(ə)-, -ai- verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English lashen to throw quickly, strike with a lash, move violently, probably partly of imitative origin and partly from lashe, n.
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to move violently or suddenly : dash , rush , fly
lashed out eastward with the agility for which he was dreaded — Emil Lengyel
lash through the brilliant sunlight of a wide arena — P.B.Martin
b. of a horse : kick — used with out
lashed out … at the cursing men behind us — Kenneth Roberts
c. : beat , pour
the rain lashed against the windowpanes — J.C.Powys
hail lashed down mercilessly
2.
a. : to strike with or as if with a whip
lashing about him with a stout staff
it had lashed across a human skull — Helen Nielsen
the final plunge of a wave lashes against the opposing land — P.S.Welch
lashed back at the enemy — S.E.Morison & H.S.Commager
b. : to make a sudden darting, sinuous, or striking movement like the lash of a whip
the snake lashed and curled — William Beebe
3. : to make a verbal assault or riposte : engage in biting criticism or censure
lashing at the bullet-headed commander — J.A.Michener
uses … newspaper ads to lash back — Printers' Ink
— usually used with out
the author lashes out at Fascism — J.L.LaMonte
lashed out on the rare occasions when he was aroused — Green Peyton
4. now chiefly dialect Britain : to spend money recklessly — usually used with out
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to throw quickly or impetuously : fling , dash
the frightened mare lashed up her heels
(2) : to move violently
the kitten … lashed its angry tail — Ethel Wilson
lashed her feather fan to and fro — Elizabeth Bowen
b. : pour , emit — usually used with out
lash out some 34,000,000 copies of newspapers a week — English Digest
2.
a.
(1) : to strike wtih a lash : whip , scourge
penitents lashing themselves till the blood came
(2) : to strike forcibly and quickly especially in a succession of blows : beat upon
the whale lashed the sea
light lashed my eyes — Wirt Williams
rain lashes the windows
the wind lashed the waves into destructive fury
b.
(1) : to assail or castigate with nonphysical means
the jealousy, the hatred, the terror which lash our souls — A.L.Guerard
especially : to assail with stinging, biting, or satirical words
lashed the vices of the time
(2) : to goad, incite, or excite to some action or into some state : drive
lashes him into murder — G.B.Shaw
lashed itself into a passion against Spain — Dexter Perkins
easy to lash them into fury — J.A.Froude
(3) : to cause to lash
a rising wind was lashing the rain against the windows — Val Mulkerus
3. dialect chiefly Britain : to spend recklessly : throw
prepared to lash the money around — Edward Sheehy
II. noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English lashe, probably from lashen, v., to throw quickly, move violently
1.
a.
(1) : a stroke with a whip or with anything slender, pliant, and tough
received ten lashes
(2) : the flexible part of a whip ; specifically : the piece (as of whipcord) forming its end
twenty feet long from butt to lash — H.L.Davis
(3) : something used for whipping : whip
used the lash on kids who trespassed on his property — Ronald Sercombe
(4) : punishment by flogging
provides fines, jail terms, and the lash for any incitement to violation — H.S.Warner
b. : a sudden swinging blow : a sweeping stroke
felt the lash of his hand on her cheek
c. : a pelting driving onslaught (as of wind or rain)
has to stand up to the lash of a north wind — Monsanto Magazine
the bitter lash of the rain — T.B.Costain
2. : a sharp or stinging blow of a nonphysical kind
under the lash of competition — C.F.Wittke
the lash of public opinion — Robert Trumbull
give him another lash with my tongue — Michael McLaverty
3. : eyelash
4. : a cord or group of strings for lifting simultaneously certain warp yarns to form a figure in weaving
5. : backlash 1b
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English lasschen to lace, from Middle French lachier, lacier — more at lace
: to bind with a rope, cord, thong, or chain so as to fasten
lash something to a spar
lash a pack
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- lash a hammock