the flexible part of a whip; the section of cord or the like forming the extremity of a whip.
a swift stroke or blow, with a whip or the like, given as a punishment.
He received 20 lashes.
something that goads or pains in a manner compared to that of a whip.
the lash of his sharp tongue.
a swift dashing or sweeping movement, as of an animal's tail; swish.
a violent beating or impact, as of waves or rain, against something.
an eyelash.
Also called neck cord. a cord or a series of cords for lifting the warp in weaving a figured fabric.
to strike or beat, as with a whip or something similarly slender and flexible.
to beat violently or sharply against.
The rain lashed the trees.
to drive by or as if by strokes of a whip.
He lashed them on to greater effort.
to attack, scold, or punish severely with words.
She lashed the students with harsh criticism.
to dash, fling, or switch suddenly and swiftly.
The crocodile lashed its tail.
to strike vigorously at someone or something, as with a weapon or whip (often followed byout ).
He lashed wildly at his attackers.
to attack or reprove someone with harsh words (often followed byout ).
to lash out at injustice.
to move suddenly and swiftly; rush, dash, or flash.
The coiled snake lashed suddenly.
Chiefly British. to spend money lavishly or foolishly (usually followed byout ).
a sharp cutting blow from a whip or other flexible object
twenty lashes was his punishment
the flexible end or ends of a whip
a cutting or hurtful blow to the feelings, as one caused by ridicule or scolding
a forceful beating or impact, as of wind, rain, or waves against something
See eyelash
informal to make an attempt at or take part in (something)
to hit (a person or thing) sharply with a whip, rope, etc, esp as a punishment
(of rain, waves, etc) to beat forcefully against
to attack with words, ridicule, etc
to flick or wave sharply to and fro
the restless panther lashed his tail
to urge or drive with or as if with a whip
to lash the audience into a violent mood
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb lashen “to deal a blow; hammer”; noun derivative of the verb; perhaps imitative of the sound
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. )
1960–65; l(ighter) a(board) sh(ip)
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.
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Lash and nail technician Lexie McGaughey is no stranger to staycations, having been to Newquay in Cornwall and Croyde in Devon with her family over the years.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
Kurt Lash of the University of Richmond has examined the congressional debates over the 14th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
Still, Morningstar analyst Erin Lash said in an interview that even when consumers are financially squeezed, they may pay up for better basics that might have a longer-term payoff.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 28, 2026
During such times, geomagnetic storms of the type that arrived Sunday can hit Earth a few times a year, Lash said.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 24, 2024
Lash kept leading, the Finns on his heels.
From "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
