# whipping

/ˈhwɪpɪŋ/ (US) · /wˈɪpɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. punishment

noun · CEFR B2

a punishment where someone is hit with a whip.

For teachers: the act of administering corporal punishment by striking with a whip or lash.

- In the past, a public whipping was a common punishment for minor crimes.
- The historical records detail the harshness of the whipping administered to sailors who attempted to mutiny during the long voyage.

### 2. heavy defeat

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a very bad defeat in a game or competition.

For teachers: a decisive or humiliating defeat in a sporting contest or political election.

- The local team suffered a ten-zero whipping in the final match.
- After the unexpected whipping at the polls, the party leader was forced to reconsider their entire campaign strategy.

### 3. mixing food

noun · CEFR B2

the process of beating air into a liquid, like cream, to make it thick.

For teachers: the culinary process of incorporating air into a substance, typically cream or egg whites, to increase volume and create a light texture.

- The recipe requires constant whipping until the cream forms stiff peaks.
- Proper whipping of the egg whites is essential for the soufflé to rise correctly in the oven.

### 4. binding a rope

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

wrapping thin cord around the end of a thick rope to stop it from untwisting.

For teachers: the binding of the end of a rope with twine to prevent fraying or unlaying.

- He applied a tight whipping to the new dock lines to keep them neat.
- The boatswain demonstrated the traditional method of common whipping to ensure the hemp ropes remained functional throughout the storm.

Usage: Often refers specifically to nautical or sailing contexts.

## Examples

- The team suffered a terrible whipping in the final game.
- Historical accounts describe the harsh whipping of sailors as a standard disciplinary measure for minor infractions at sea.
- The incumbent party faced a political whipping at the polls, losing several key districts that had been considered safe strongholds for decades.

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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.