Definition of lash verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

lash

verb

/læʃ/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they lash	/læʃ/ /læʃ/
he / she / it lashes	/ˈlæʃɪz/ /ˈlæʃɪz/
past simple lashed	/læʃt/ /læʃt/
past participle lashed	/læʃt/ /læʃt/
-ing form lashing	/ˈlæʃɪŋ/ /ˈlæʃɪŋ/

Phrasal Verbs

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[intransitive, transitive] to hit somebody/something with great force synonym pound
- + adv./prep. The rain lashed at the windows.
- Branches lashed at my face.
- lash something Huge waves lashed the shore.
Synonyms beat
beatbatter ▪ pound ▪ lash ▪ hammerThese words all mean to hit somebody/something many times, especially hard.
beat to hit somebody/something a lot of times, especially very hard:
Someone was beating at the door.
A young man was found beaten to death last night.
At that time, children were often beaten for quite minor offences (= as a punishment).
batter to hit somebody/something hard a lot of times, especially in way that causes serious injury or damage:
He had been badly battered around the head and face.
Severe winds have been battering the coast.
pound to hit somebody/something hard a lot of times, especially in a way that makes a lot of noise:
Heavy rain pounded on the roof.
lash to hit somebody/something with a lot of force:
The rain lashed at the window.
The subject of lash is often rain, wind, hail, sea or waves.hammer to hit somebody/something hard a lot of times, in a way that is noisy or violent:
He hammered the door with his fists.
pound or hammer?There is not much difference in meaning between these two, but to pound is sometimes a steadier action. To hammer can be more violent and it is often used figuratively.Patterns
- to beat/batter/pound/lash/hammer somebody/something with something
- to beat/batter/pound/lash/hammer against something
- to beat/batter/pound/hammer on something
- to beat/batter/hammer something down
- the rain/wind/sea beats/batters/pounds/lashes (at) something
Extra Examples
- The rain lashed down onto the road.
- The wind lashed against the trees.
- The rain and hail lashed the mountainside.
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[transitive] lash somebody/something to hit a person or an animal with a whip, rope, stick, etc. synonym beat
[transitive] lash somebody/something to criticize somebody/something in a very angry way synonym attackTopics Feelingsc2
[transitive] lash something + adv./prep. to fasten something tightly to something else with ropes
- Several logs had been lashed together to make a raft.
- During the storm everything on deck had to be lashed down.
Extra Examples
- She lashed the horse to a post.
- The boats were lashed together.
[intransitive, transitive] lash (something) to move or to move something quickly and violently from side to side
- The crocodile's tail was lashing furiously from side to side.
- The cat hissed and lashed its tail wildly from side to side.

Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘make a sudden movement’): probably imitative.

See lash in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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