Definition of "lash" in English

noun

1. The thong or braided cord of a whip, with which the blow is given.

2. (obsolete) A leash in which an animal is caught or held; hence, a snare.

3. A stroke with a whip, or anything pliant and tough, often given as a punishment.

   • The culprit received thirty-nine lashes.

4. A quick and violent sweeping movement, as of an animal's tail; a swish.

5. A stroke of satire or sarcasm; an expression or retort that cuts or gives pain; a cut.

6. A hair growing from the edge of the eyelid; an eyelash.

7. In carpet weaving, a group of strings for lifting simultaneously certain yarns, to form the figure.

8. (botany) Flowering plants of genus Blepharis.

9. (Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, informal) An attempt; a go at something.

   • I'll have a lash.

10. A quantity, a great number or amount (e.g. of rain or milk).

verb

1. (transitive) To strike with a lash; to whip or scourge with a lash, or with something like one.

2. (transitive) To strike forcibly and quickly, as with a lash; to beat, or beat upon, with a motion like that of a lash.

3. (transitive) To throw out with a jerk or quickly.

4. (transitive) To scold; or to satirize; to censure with severity.

5. (intransitive) To ply the whip; to strike.

6. (intransitive) To strike vigorously; to let fly.

7. (intransitive) To utter censure or sarcastic language.

8. (intransitive, of rain) To fall heavily, especially in the phrase lash down.

9. Used in phrasal verbs: lash back, lash out.

verb

1. (transitive) To bind with a rope, cord, thong, or chain, so as to fasten.

   • to lash something to a spar
   • lash a pack on a horse's back

adjective

1. (obsolete) Remiss, lax.

2. (obsolete) Relaxed.

3. Soft, watery, wet.

4. (Ulster) Excellent, wonderful.

   • We’re off school tomorrow, it’s gonna be lash!
   • That Chinese (food) was lash!

5. (British, slang) Drunk.

noun

1. (machining, mechanical) Looseness between fitted parts, either intentional (as allowance) or unintentional (from error or wear).