I. lash 1 /læʃ/ BrE AmE verb
[ Sense 1: Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: lacier , from Latin laqueus ; ⇨ ↑ lace 1 ]
[ Sense 2-5: Date: 1300-1400 ; Origin: Perhaps from the sound of a sudden sharp hit ]
1 . TIE [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to tie something tightly to something else with a rope SYN bind
lash something to something
The oars were lashed to the sides of the boat.
2 . WIND/RAIN/SEA [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive] if the wind, sea etc lashes something, it hits it with violent force:
Giant waves lashed the sea wall.
lash against/down/across
The wind lashed violently against the door.
3 . HIT [transitive] to hit a person or animal very hard with a whip, stick etc:
Oliver lashed the horses to go faster.
4 . TAIL [intransitive and transitive] if an animal lashes its tail, or if its tail lashes, it moves it from side to side quickly and strongly, especially because it is angry
5 . CRITICIZE [intransitive and transitive] to criticize someone angrily – used especially in newspapers:
Democrats lashed Republican plans, calling them extreme.
lash back
Gallins lashed back at those who accused him of corruption.
lash out phrasal verb
1 . to suddenly speak angrily to someone or criticize someone angrily
lash out at
Olson lashed out at the media.
2 . to try to hit someone with a series of violent uncontrolled movements
lash out at
She would suddenly lash out at other children.
II. lash 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . a hit with a whip, especially as a punishment:
They were each given fifty lashes.
2 . [usually plural] one of the hairs that grow around the edges of your eyes SYN eyelash
3 . a sudden or violent movement like that of a whip:
With a lash of its tail, the lion sprang at its prey.
4 . the thin piece of leather at the end of a whip
5 . on the lash British English informal drinking a lot of alcohol in ↑ pub s or bars:
We went out on the lash last night.