# lash

/ˈɫæʃ/ (US) · /lˈæʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lash
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to hit or strike

verb · CEFR B2

to hit someone or something with a whip or a thin, flexible object.

For teachers: to strike with a lash or whip; to beat upon something with a forceful, whip-like motion.

- The rider lashed the horse to make it run faster during the race.
- The storm lashed the coast for three days, with waves crashing violently against the crumbling sea wall.

### 2. to tie or fasten

verb · CEFR B2

to tie something firmly in place using a rope or cord.

For teachers: to bind or secure an object with a rope, cord, or chain to prevent movement.

- We had to lash the suitcases to the roof of the car before we left.
- The crew worked quickly to lash the heavy equipment to the deck before the gale reached full strength.

### 3. to rain heavily

verb · CEFR B2 · British English

to rain very hard and with great force.

For teachers: to fall heavily and with significant force; typically used in the phrasal verb 'lash down'.

- It started to lash down just as we stepped out of the house.
- The rain continued to lash down throughout the night, flooding the lower pastures and blocking the main road.

### 4. eyelash

noun · CEFR B2

one of the short hairs that grow on the edge of your eyelid.

For teachers: a single hair growing from the margin of the eyelid.

- She had long, dark lashes that made her eyes look very bright.
- The patient complained of a recurring irritation caused by an ingrown lash on the upper eyelid.

### 5. a hit with a whip

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a single hit given with a whip, often as a punishment.

For teachers: a stroke or blow delivered with a whip or similar flexible implement.

- In the old days, sailors could be punished with twenty lashes.
- The prisoner was sentenced to ten lashes, a common though brutal disciplinary measure in that era.

### 6. an attempt

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · Dialect

a try or an attempt at doing something.

For teachers: an attempt or a 'go' at a particular task or activity.

- I've never played golf before, but I'll have a lash at it.
- Despite having no formal training in carpentry, he decided to have a lash at building the garden shed himself.

### 7. drunk

adjective · CEFR C2 · Slang · British English

a slang word for being very drunk.

For teachers: intoxicated by alcohol; used in highly informal or slang contexts.

- They went out for one drink and ended up completely lash.
- The party-goers were visibly lash by midnight, making the journey home somewhat chaotic for the designated drivers.

## Examples

- She felt a lash of cold wind against her face.
- The prisoner was sentenced to ten lashes as punishment for his attempted escape from the camp.
- The sailor secured the heavy cargo with a sturdy rope lash to ensure nothing would shift during the impending storm.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.