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¹whip

verb \ˈhwip, ˈwip\

: to hit (a person or animal) with a whip or with something that is like a whip

: to move (something) to a different position or remove (something) from a place quickly and forcefully

: to move quickly or forcefully

whippedwhip·ping

Full Definition of WHIP

transitive verb

: to take, pull, snatch, jerk, or otherwise move very quickly and forcefully <whipped out his gun — Green Peyton>

a (1) : to strike with a slender lithe implement (as a lash or rod) especially as a punishment (2) : spank

b : to drive or urge on by or as if by using a whip

c : to strike as a lash does <rain whipped the pavement>

a : to bind or wrap (as a rope or fishing rod) with cord for protection and strength

b : to wind or wrap around something

: to belabor with stinging words : abuse

: to seam or hem with shallow overcasting stitches

: to overcome decisively : defeat

: to stir up : incite —usually used with up <trying to whip up a new emotion — Ellen Glasgow>

: to produce in a hurry —usually used with up <a sketch … an artist might whip up — New York Times>

: to fish (water) with rod, line, and artificial lure

: to beat (as eggs or cream) into a froth with a utensil (as a whisk or fork)

: to gather together or hold together for united action in the manner of a party whip

intransitive verb

: to proceed nimbly or quickly <whipping through the supper dishes — C. B. Davis>

: to thrash about flexibly in the manner of a whiplash <a flag … whipping out from its staff — H. A. Calahan>

— whip·per noun

— whip into shape

: to bring forcefully to a desired state or condition

See whip defined for English-language learners

See whip defined for kids

Origin of WHIP

Middle English wippen, whippen; akin to Middle Dutch wippen to move up and down, sway, Old English wīpian to wipe

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to WHIP

Synonyms: birch, cowhide, flagellate, flail, flog, hide, horsewhip, lash, leather, rawhide, scourge, slash, switch, tan, thrash, whale

Rhymes with WHIP

blip, chip, clip, dip, drip, flip, grip, grippe, gyp, hip, kip, lip, nip, pip, quip, rip, scrip, ship, sip, skip, slip, snip, strip, tip, trip, yip, zip

²whip

noun

: a long, thin piece of leather or similar material that is attached to a handle and that is used for hitting a person as punishment or to hit an animal (such as a horse) to make it move faster

: a member of a legislature (such as the U.S. Congress or the British Parliament) who is appointed by a political party to make sure that other members are present when votes are taken and that they do the things that they are expected to do

: a light dessert made by mixing together sweet ingredients

Full Definition of WHIP

: an instrument consisting usually of a handle and lash forming a flexible rod that is used for whipping

: a stroke or cut with or as if with a whip

a : a dessert made by whipping a portion of the ingredients <prune whip>

b : a kitchen utensil made of braided or coiled wire or perforated metal with a handle and used in whipping

: one that handles a whip: as

a : a driver of horses : coachman

b : whipper-in 1

a : a member of a legislative body appointed by a political party to enforce party discipline and to secure the attendance of party members at important sessions

b often capitalized : a notice of forthcoming business sent weekly to each member of a political party in the British House of Commons

: a whipping or thrashing motion

: the quality of resembling a whip especially in being flexible

: whip antenna

— whip·like \ˈhwip-ˌlīk, ˈwip-\ adjective

See whip defined for English-language learners