I. lame 1 /leɪm/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: lama ]
1 .
a) unable to walk properly because your leg or foot is injured or weak:
a lame dog
go lame (=become lame)
b) the lame [plural] people who are lame
2 . a lame excuse or explanation is weak and difficult to believe
lame excuse/explanation
She gave some lame excuse about missing the bus.
a lame attempt to deflect criticism
⇨ ↑ lamely
3 . informal boring or not very good SYN poor :
A lot of the songs on this album are a bit lame.
the company’s lame performance
—lameness noun [uncountable]
II. lame 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive usually passive]
to make a person or animal unable to walk properly SYN cripple :
The fall left him badly lamed.