lash

play

verb \ ˈlash \

Definition of lash

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

—

lasher

noun

Recent Examples of lash from the Web

Since the storm began lashing Houston on Friday, stores had closed, including the ones selling razors.

— Washington Post, "Harvey, the unwelcome visitor that just won’t leave," 30 Aug. 2017
Since the storm began lashing Houston on Friday, stores had closed, including the ones selling razors.

— Washington Post, "Harvey, the unwelcome visitor that just won’t leave," 30 Aug. 2017
The Category-4 storm barreled into Texas on 25 August, lashing the coast with 200-kilometer-per-hour winds, and deluging Houston with more than a meter of rain.

— julia rosen, Science | AAAS, "Human influence may prolong ocean cycle that gave birth to Harvey," 29 Aug. 2017
Since the storm began lashing Houston on Friday, stores had closed, including the ones selling razors.

— juliet linderman, The Seattle Times, "Waiting the worst with Harvey, the storm that won’t go away," 29 Aug. 2017
Rep. Peter King, R-New York, lashed out Saturday at Cruz over his Sandy vote.

— chicagotribune.com, "Trump pledge of swift Harvey aid to hit reality of slow Congress," 29 Aug. 2017
A large sofa near the door functions as a place to linger over adobo-style peanuts lashed with black vinegar.

— garrett snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "4 New Restaurants to Try Right Now," 28 Aug. 2017
It is expected to move to the northeast, toward far eastern Texas and Louisiana, and bands of heavy rain were already lashing those regions.

— julie turkewitz, richard pÉrez-peÑa and jack healy, New York Times, "Deluged Texas Braces for More Rain, and Years of Recovery," 28 Aug. 2017
Mather: Mayweather is doing less defending and more lashing out.

— john eligon and victor mather, New York Times, "Mayweather vs. McGregor: Highlights From Every Round," 27 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lash.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of lash

Middle English

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

lash

noun

Definition of lash

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

See lash defined for English-language learners

Examples of lash in a Sentence

They gave the sailor 50 lashes for disobeying orders.
The disobedient sailors were threatened with the lash.

Recent Examples of lash from the Web

This award winner from Down Under uses an innovative, ultra-light stretchable elastic-gel to create glossier, longer, fuller lashes that won’t flake out on you.

— miamiherald, "Stuff celebrities love: A perfect wine to celebrate the eclipse," 21 Aug. 2017
Troublemaker is formulated with the intent of giving your lashes both serious volume and length without flaking or going limp.

— erin reimel, Glamour, "I'm Literally Addicted to Urban Decay's Troublemaker Mascara," 17 Aug. 2017
Veron went to ground to score his goal – a desperate lash knocked the ball over FC Cincinnati goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt's goal line.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "FC Cincinnati's Open Cup dream ends, NYRB advances to final," 15 Aug. 2017
A second very small lash egg was found this morning.

— jessica mattern, Country Living, "Here's What You Should Do If Your Chicken Lays a Lash Egg," 9 Aug. 2017
To remove any lash in the driveline and to preload the driveshaft and trans with torque, inch up to the line a bit while still holding the brakes.

— k.c. colwell, Car and Driver, "2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon," 20 July 2017
Kaye A: Duo brush-on strip lash adhesive comes with a skinny brush for a smoother application.

— atlanta life, ajc, "Where can I find it?," 18 July 2017
To get the look, Arisa first primed her lids using Maybelline's Master Prime, and applied the EM Cosmetics Matte Gel Pencil ($15) to her upper lash line. smudging it out with an eyeliner brush.

— shira karsen, Billboard, "Rock the Look: This is How to Get Camila Cabello's Sultry 'Crying in the Club' Smokey Eyes," 23 June 2017
Several of them felt his lash during last year’s campaign or, like Portman and Susan Collins of Maine, have kept their distance from Trump.

— Washington Post, "Health care poses a test of Trump’s work with the Senate," 23 June 2017

First Known Use of lash

14th century

lash Synonyms

Synonyms

bang, bash, bat, beat, belt, biff, bop, box, buffet, bust, chop, clap, clip, clout, crack, cuff, dab, douse [British], fillip, hack, haymaker, hit, hook, knock, larrup [dialect], ¹blow, 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 (also whap)

lash

verb

Definition of lash

transitive verb

:to bind with or as if with a line

—

lasher

noun

Recent Examples of lash from the Web

Since the storm began lashing Houston on Friday, stores had closed, including the ones selling razors.

— Washington Post, "Harvey, the unwelcome visitor that just won’t leave," 30 Aug. 2017
Since the storm began lashing Houston on Friday, stores had closed, including the ones selling razors.

— Washington Post, "Harvey, the unwelcome visitor that just won’t leave," 30 Aug. 2017
The Category-4 storm barreled into Texas on 25 August, lashing the coast with 200-kilometer-per-hour winds, and deluging Houston with more than a meter of rain.

— julia rosen, Science | AAAS, "Human influence may prolong ocean cycle that gave birth to Harvey," 29 Aug. 2017
Since the storm began lashing Houston on Friday, stores had closed, including the ones selling razors.

— juliet linderman, The Seattle Times, "Waiting the worst with Harvey, the storm that won’t go away," 29 Aug. 2017
Rep. Peter King, R-New York, lashed out Saturday at Cruz over his Sandy vote.

— chicagotribune.com, "Trump pledge of swift Harvey aid to hit reality of slow Congress," 29 Aug. 2017
A large sofa near the door functions as a place to linger over adobo-style peanuts lashed with black vinegar.

— garrett snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "4 New Restaurants to Try Right Now," 28 Aug. 2017
It is expected to move to the northeast, toward far eastern Texas and Louisiana, and bands of heavy rain were already lashing those regions.

— julie turkewitz, richard pÉrez-peÑa and jack healy, New York Times, "Deluged Texas Braces for More Rain, and Years of Recovery," 28 Aug. 2017
Mather: Mayweather is doing less defending and more lashing out.

— john eligon and victor mather, New York Times, "Mayweather vs. McGregor: Highlights From Every Round," 27 Aug. 2017

Origin and Etymology of lash

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1624

See Words from the same year

LASH Defined for English Language Learners

lash

noun

Definition of lash for English Language Learners

: a hit with a whip
the lash : the punishment of being hit with a whip
: the thin piece on the end of a whip

LASH Defined for Kids

lash

play

verb \ ˈlash \

Definition of lash for Students

lashed; lashing

1 :to hit with a whip

The rider lashed his horse.

2 :to move forcefully from side to side

The animal lashed his tail about.

3 :to hit with force

Rain lashed the windows.

4 :to make a sudden and angry attack against

He lashed out at his critics.

lash

noun

Definition of lash for Students

1 :a blow with a whip or switch The pirate received 20 lashes.

2 :the flexible part of a whip

3 :eyelash

lash

verb

Definition of lash for Students

lashed; lashing

:to tie or tie down with a rope or chain

The first thing Timothy did was to lash our water keg high on a palm trunk.
—Theodore Taylor, The Cay

Medical Dictionary

lash

play

noun \ ˈlash \

medical Definition of lash

:eyelash

Learn More about lash

See words that rhyme with lash Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for lash Spanish Central: Translation of lash Nglish: Translation of lash for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lash for Arabic speakers

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lash

Definition of lash

lasher

From the M-W Editors

Recent Examples of lash from the Web

Origin and Etymology of lash

lash

Definition of lash

Examples of lash in a Sentence

Recent Examples of lash from the Web

First Known Use of lash

lash Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

lash

Definition of lash

lasher

Recent Examples of lash from the Web

Origin and Etymology of lash

Phrases Related to LASH

Related Phrases

LASH Defined for English Language Learners

lash

Definition of lash for English Language Learners

LASH Defined for Kids

lash

Definition of lash for Students

lash

Definition of lash for Students

lash

Definition of lash for Students

Medical Dictionary

lash

medical Definition of lash

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