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whip definition

whip (hwip, wip)

transitive verb whipped or whipt, whipping whip′·ping

  1. to move, pull, jerk, snatch, throw, etc. suddenly: usually with out, off, up, etc. to whip out a knife
    1. to strike, as with a strap or rod; lash; beat
    2. to punish in this manner
  2. to force, drive, compel, or urge by or as by whipping
  3. to strike as a whip does the rain whipped her face
  4. to attack with stinging words; flay
  5. to wind (cord or thread) around (a rope, etc.) so as to prevent fraying
  6. to fish (a stream, etc.) by making repeated casts with a rod and line
  7. to beat (egg whites, cream, etc.) with a fork, whisk, mixer, etc. so as to incorporate air and make frothy
  8. to sew (a seam or hem) with a loose, overcasting or overhand stitch
  9. Informal to defeat or outdo, as in a contest
  10. Naut. to hoist by means of a rope passing through an overhead pulley

Etymology: ME whippen < MDu wippen, to swing, move up and down < IE *weib-, to turn, swing: see vibrate

intransitive verb

  1. to move, go, or pass quickly and suddenly he whipped down the stairs
  2. to flap or thrash about in a whiplike manner flags whipping in high wind
  3. to cast with a fishing rod, using a quick, whiplike motion

noun

  1. an instrument for striking or flogging, consisting generally of a stiff or flexible rod with a lash attached to one end
  2. a blow, cut, etc. made with or as with a whip
  3. a person who uses a whip, as a coachman or a huntsman who whips on the hounds
    1. an officer of a political party, as in Congress or Parliament, who maintains discipline and enforces attendance
    2. Brit. a call issued to party members in a lawmaking body to be in attendance to vote on a certain issue a three-line whip
  4. a whipping motion
  5. a dessert made of sugar and whipped cream, stiffly beaten egg whites, or gelatin, and often fruit
  6. something resembling a whip in its action, as a windmill vane, kind of eggbeater, etc.
  7. a hoisting apparatus consisting of a single rope passing through an overhead pulley
  8. a flexible vertical rod for use as a radio antenna

Etymology: ME whippe < MDu wippe

whip Idioms

whip in

to bring together or assemble, as a party whip does

whip into shape

Informal to bring by vigorous action into the proper or desired condition

whip up

  1. to rouse; excite to whip up enthusiasm
  2. Informal to prepare quickly and efficiently

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