I. whip 1 /wɪp/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle whipped , present participle whipping )
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Origin: Probably from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German wippen 'to swing' ]
1 . [transitive] to hit someone or something with a whip:
He whipped the horse into a canter.
2 . [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] to move quickly and violently, or to make something do this:
The wind whipped her hair into her eyes.
whip across/around/past etc
Rain whipped across the window pane.
whip something about/around
The branches were being whipped about in the storm.
whip round/around
He whipped round to face them.
3 . [transitive always + adverb/preposition] to move or remove something with a quick sudden movement
whip something off/out/back etc
Annie whipped off her apron and put it into the drawer.
He whipped back the sheets.
4 . [transitive] to mix cream or the clear part of an egg very hard until it becomes stiff ⇨ beat , whisk :
Whip the cream until thick.
5 . [transitive] British English informal to steal something
whip through something phrasal verb informal
to finish a job very quickly:
He whipped through his routine paperwork before going home.
whip somebody/something ↔ up phrasal verb
1 . to try to make people feel strongly about something
whip up interest/opposition/support etc
They’ll do anything to whip up a bit of interest in a book.
an attempt to whip up the masses
2 . to quickly make something to eat:
Mother was in the kitchen whipping up a batch of cakes.
II. whip 2 BrE AmE noun
1 . [countable] a long thin piece of rope or leather with a handle, that you hit animals with to make them move or that you hit someone with to punish them:
The coachman cracked his whip and the carriage lurched forward.
2 . [countable] a member of the US Congress or the British Parliament who is responsible for making sure that the members of their party attend and vote
3 . [countable] a written order sent to members of the British Parliament telling them when and how to vote ⇨ ↑ three-line whip
4 . [uncountable and countable] British English a sweet dish made from the white part of eggs and chocolate or fruit, beaten together to make a smooth light mixture:
pineapple whip
5 . have the whip hand to have power and control over someone
⇨ crack the whip at ↑ crack 1 (14), ⇨ give somebody a fair crack of the whip at ↑ fair 1 (9)