From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishlashlash1 /læʃ/ verb 1 tie [transitive always + adverb/preposition]TIE to tie something tightly to something else with a rope SYN bindlash something to something The oars were lashed to the sides of the boat.2 wind/rain/sea [intransitive always + adverb/preposition, transitive]HIT if the wind, sea etc lashes something, it hits it with violent force Giant waves lashed the sea wall.lash against/down/across The wind lashed violently against the door.3 hit [transitive]HIT to hit a person or animal very hard with a whip, stick etc Oliver lashed the horses to go faster.4 tail [intransitive, transitive]HBAMOVE something OR somebody if an animal lashes its tail, or if its tail lashes, it moves it from side to side quickly and strongly, especially because it is angry5 criticize [intransitive, transitive]CRITICIZE to criticize someone angrily – used especially in newspapers Democrats lashed Republican plans, calling them extreme.lash back Gallins lashed back at those who accused him of corruption. → lash out→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
lash• One politician lashed Bush as being the president of the wealthy.• Several of the men were lashed for falling asleep on guard duty.• Then he lashed his horses and round and round the walls of Troy he dragged all that was left of glorious Hector.• Instantly Oliver lashed it harshly with the whip, lashed its mate, leaped to the ground and kept on lashing.• Casey lashes out as he kicks his legs free.• The people applaud politely when speakers lash out at Gov.• One or two lashed out, but most did nothing.• He briefly considered lashing out on a taxi, but only briefly.• In a fury, he lashed the horse on.• Giant waves continuously lashed the shore.• Mark lashed the windmill to the inevitable bamboo pole, and we tried propping it near the stern.• The bags were lashed tightly to the roof of the jeep.• The sailors made a raft by lashing tree-trunks together.lash against/down/across• He began to flog Luke unmercifully, bringing the lash down across back, buttocks and legs again and again.• Luke shook his head and again Gallagher brought the lash down across his back.• Torrential rain lashed down but the people were patient.• Gallagher brought his arm back and over and laid the lash across Luke's bare back.• Stubb and Flask are sent to the forecastle to lash down the anchors.• As he entered the paved courtyard the rain came whipping in from the sea, lashing against the car and obliterating everything.• The wind lashed violently against the door.• It slid to the base of the mast so we could lash down the flapping canvas with extra sail ties.• As she watched, the whole sea lifted, a green billow rose and drowned the cave and lashed against the rock.lash back• Gallins lashed back at those who accused him of corruption.lashlash2 noun [countable] 1 PUNISHa hit with a whip, especially as a punishment They were each given fifty lashes.2 [usually plural]HBH one of the hairs that grow around the edges of your eyes SYN eyelash3 MOVE something OR somebodya sudden or violent movement like that of a whip With a lash of its tail, the lion sprang at its prey.4 PMWthe thin piece of leather at the end of a whip5 → on the lashExamples from the Corpus
lash• They were each given 50 lashes.• Patrick Foster was sentenced to 70 lashes in 1995.• She noticed that his eyes were very dark and intense, with long black lashes.• Almost inhumanly silver-hued eyes set in a bed of black lashes.• His inscrutable glance met hers and then his heavy lashes dropped as he released the lacy strap.• Then, looking down, brush lower lashes in the same way.• He was well over six feet, his hair was black and his eyes gleamed amber from between luxuriant lashes.• The skin tone, the shine on the dark hair, the thick sweep of lashes, were lifelike.• Only use eyelash curlers if your lashes are very straight.Origin lash1 1. (1400-1500) Old French lacier, from Latin laqueus; → LACE12. (1300-1400) Perhaps from the sound of a sudden sharp hit 