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• lash
  lash

  noun

  the flexible part of a whip; the section of cord or the like forming the extremity of a whip.
• LASH
  LASH

  noun

  an ocean-going vessel equipped with special cranes and holds for lifting and stowing cargo-carrying barges that can be sailed up inland waterways or into port facilities from offshore.

lash

¹ American  

[lash] / læʃ /

noun

• lashes
  plural

1. the flexible part of a whip; the section of cord or the like forming the extremity of a whip.

2. a swift stroke or blow, with a whip or the like, given as a punishment.

   He received 20 lashes.

3. something that goads or pains in a manner compared to that of a whip.

   the lash of his sharp tongue.

4. a swift dashing or sweeping movement, as of an animal's tail; swish.

5. a violent beating or impact, as of waves or rain, against something.

6. an eyelash.

7. Also called neck cord.  a cord or a series of cords for lifting the warp in weaving a figured fabric.

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verb (used with object)

1. to strike or beat, as with a whip or something similarly slender and flexible.

2. to beat violently or sharply against.

   The rain lashed the trees.

3. to drive by or as if by strokes of a whip.

   He lashed them on to greater effort.

4. to attack, scold, or punish severely with words.

   She lashed the students with harsh criticism.

5. to dash, fling, or switch suddenly and swiftly.

   The crocodile lashed its tail.

verb (used without object)

1. to strike vigorously at someone or something, as with a weapon or whip (often followed byout ).

   He lashed wildly at his attackers.

2. to attack or reprove someone with harsh words (often followed byout ).

   to lash out at injustice.

   Synonyms:

   tongue-lash, scold, berate

3. to move suddenly and swiftly; rush, dash, or flash.

   The coiled snake lashed suddenly.

4. Chiefly British. to spend money lavishly or foolishly (usually followed byout ).

lash ² American  

[lash] / læʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to bind or fasten with a rope, cord, or the like.

   Synonyms:

   truss, rope, secure, tie

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LASH ³ American  

[lash] / læʃ /

noun

1. an ocean-going vessel equipped with special cranes and holds for lifting and stowing cargo-carrying barges that can be sailed up inland waterways or into port facilities from offshore.

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lash ¹ British  

/ læʃ /

noun

1. a sharp cutting blow from a whip or other flexible object

   twenty lashes was his punishment

2. the flexible end or ends of a whip

3. a cutting or hurtful blow to the feelings, as one caused by ridicule or scolding

4. a forceful beating or impact, as of wind, rain, or waves against something

5. See eyelash

6. informal to make an attempt at or take part in (something)

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verb

1. to hit (a person or thing) sharply with a whip, rope, etc, esp as a punishment

2. (of rain, waves, etc) to beat forcefully against

3. to attack with words, ridicule, etc

4. to flick or wave sharply to and fro

   the restless panther lashed his tail

5. to urge or drive with or as if with a whip

   to lash the audience into a violent mood

lash ² British  

/ læʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to bind or secure with rope, string, etc

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• lasher
  noun
• lashless
  adjective
• lashingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• lashes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lash¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb lashen “to deal a blow; hammer”; noun derivative of the verb; perhaps imitative of the sound

Origin of lash²

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English lasen, lace(n) “to fasten with laces, buckles, or ties,” from Old French lac(i)er, lasser, lachier to lace ( def. )

Origin of LASH³

1960–65; l(ighter) a(board) sh(ip)

Explanation

A lash is a sharp slap or strike with a rope or whip. In some parts of the world, lawbreakers receive a certain number of lashes as punishment for their crimes. To deliver a lash is also to lash: "I instructed the jockey not to lash the horse," and another way to lash is to tie one thing securely to another. The part of a whip that actually connects with a person or animal's body is called a lash as well. When you lash out at someone, you either hit them or attack them in a figurative way, especially through angry words.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lash LASH lashes

In an era in which everyone howls about everything, and ranting in public is considered negotiation, head coach Lance Taylor refused to lash out.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Characters forced to make do either lash out, like raging overreactors on Lee Sung Jin’s petty, brutal “Beef,” or fall into holding patterns, like the unlucky in love leads of Issa Rae’s dramedy “Insecure.”

From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026

It’s the latest effect forecast for what’s expected to be an historically strong event, one forecasters warn could also lash Southern California with powerful rain and broil both land and sea with punishing heat waves.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

He says Oliver would often become overwhelmed and "lash out" when hairdressers tried to cut his hair.

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026

She shrieked in outrage, an earsplitting noise that made the horses’ ears pin back and their tails lash.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

LASH, Taylor said, had “reaffirmed my faith in medicine.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2020

Kaiser Permanente and Dignity Health received $500,000 apiece for the salaries of their employees who were reassigned to LASH.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2020

St. Vincent was to be known as the Los Angeles Surge Hospital, or LASH.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2020

Under plans devised by Jerome Goldman, a New Orleans marine architect, the barges will be hoisted out of the water by a giant shipboard crane and stored vertically in 14 bays on the LASH.

From Time Magazine Archive

Entire communities have been swept away, leaving families homeless and using makeshift shelters as heavy rain lashes down.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

She makes videos “questioning” the existence of dinosaurs and then lashes out at the people who inevitably make fun of her for this.

From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026

There were no false lashes or full faces of glam.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 9, 2026

The solid, stolid, self-satisfied Edwardian England that had seemed so deserving of his lashes was itself now wounded, and something in Galsworthy shifted accordingly.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026

Your heart bays to the double crescent moons of closed lashes on her cheeks.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• batter
• buffet
• chastise
• knock
• pummel
• smack