lash

1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈlash 

lashed; lashing; lashes

intransitive verb

1

: to move violently or suddenly : dash

2

: to thrash or beat violently

rain lashed at the windowpanes

3

: to make a verbal attack or retort

—usually used with out

transitive verb

1

a

: to whip or fling about violently

the big cat lashed its tail about threateningly

b

: to strike or beat with or as if with a whip

waves lashed the shore

2

a

: to assail with stinging words

b

: drive, whip

lashed them into a fury with his fiery speech

lash

2 of 3

noun

1

a(1)

: a stroke with or as if with a whip

(2)

: the flexible part of a whip

also : whip

b

: punishment by whipping

2

: a beating, whipping, or driving force

3

: a stinging rebuke

4

: eyelash

5

: the clearance or play between adjacent movable mechanical parts

lash

3 of 3

verb (2)

lashed; lashing; lashes

transitive verb

: to bind with or as if with a line

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• birch
• cowhide
• flagellate
• flail
• flog
• hide
• horsewhip
• leather
• rawhide
• scourge
• slash
• switch
• tan
• thrash
• whale
• whip

Noun

• bang
• bash
• bat
• beat
• belt
• biff
• blow
• bop
• box
• buffet
• bust
• chop
• clap
• clip
• clout
• crack
• cuff
• dab
• douse [British]
• fillip
• hack
• haymaker
• hit
• hook
• knock
• larrup [dialect]
• lick
• pelt
• pick
• plump
• poke
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slug
• smack
• smash
• sock
• spank
• stinger
• stripe
• stroke
• swat
• swipe
• switch
• thud
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• welt
• whack
• wham
• whop
• whap

Examples of lash in a Sentence

Verb (1)

the cat's tail nervously lashed the table leg

all night long sheets of rain lashed the windows

Noun

They gave the sailor 50 lashes for disobeying orders.

The disobedient sailors were threatened with the lash.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Here's what to know about Noem: Marco Rubio to visit Central America:Secretary of State to visit Panama after Donald Trump lashes out at country Where was Kristi Noem born? —Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025

Cats hide pain well, Koski said, but perhaps their owners have noticed them biting or lashing out. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025

Noun

However, not everyone might have lash glue on hand. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 2025

Her lashes were delicate, her brows were softly arched, her cheeks were a tad rosy, and her lips were topped off with peachy gloss. —Robyn Merrett, StyleCaster, 5 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English

Verb (2)

Middle English lasschyn to lace, from Anglo-French lacer, lasser — more at lace

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb (2)

1624, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lash

• lash-up
• the lash
• tongue-lash

Kids Definition

lash

1 of 3 verb

ˈlash 

1

: to move violently or suddenly

2

: to strike with or as if with a whip

3

: to attack with strong language

—usually used with out

lashed out at his sister

lash

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: a stroke with a whip or switch

b

: the flexible part of a whip

also : whip entry 2 sense 1

2

: a beating, whipping, or driving force

3

: eyelash

lash

3 of 3 verb

: to tie down with a rope, cord, or chain

lasher noun

Etymology

Verb

Middle English lassen "to move violently or suddenly"

Verb

Middle English lasschen "to lace," from early French lacer (same meaning), derived from Latin laqueare "to snare, catch in a noose," from laqueus "noose, snare" — related to lace, lasso entry 1 see Word History at lace

Medical Definition

lash

noun

ˈlash 

: eyelash