bə̇ˈrāt, bē-, usu -ād.+V transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: be- + rate (to chide)
: to heap reproaches on : criticize vigorously
hearing Ed Hall berate a farmer who doubted the practicability of the machine — Sherwood Anderson
: scold or chide vehemently
an Italian shrew berating her unemployed husband — John McCarten
Synonyms: see scold