Lame definition

lām
lamed lames lamest laming
See word origin
Frequency:
(informal) Weak, unconvincing, inadequate, etc.

A lame excuse.

adjective
16
3
The thin, overlapping metal plates in a piece of armor.
noun
6
3
A fabric of silk, wool, or cotton interwoven with metallic threads, as of gold or silver.
noun
4
1
To cause to become lame; cripple.
verb
9
7
Disabled so that movement, especially walking, is difficult or impossible.
adjective
5
3
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(slang) Inept, ineffectual, pathetic, etc.
adjective
4
2
Disabled so that movement, especially walking, is difficult or impossible.

Lame from the accident, he walked with a cane. A lame wing kept the bird from flying.

adjective
3
1
Marked by pain or rigidness.

A lame back.

adjective
3
1
Weak or ineffectual.

A lame attempt to apologize.

adjective
3
1
To make lame.
verb
3
1
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Marked by pain or rigidness.

A lame back.

adjective
3
1
To cause to become lame; cripple.
verb
3
1
A thin metal plate, especially one of the overlapping steel plates in medieval armor.
noun
2
0
Crippled; disabled; esp., having an injured leg or foot that makes one limp.
adjective
2
0
A shiny fabric woven with metallic threads, often of gold or silver.
noun
6
5
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Stiff and very painful.

A lame back.

adjective
1
1
A thin metal plate.
noun
1
1
Unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs.
adjective
0
0
Moving with pain or difficulty on account of injury, defect or temporary obstruction of a function.

A lame leg, arm or muscle.

adjective
0
0
(by extension) Hobbling; limping; inefficient; imperfect.
adjective
0
0
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He had a really lame excuse for missing the birthday party.

adjective
0
0
(slang) Failing to be cool, funny, interesting or relevant.

He kept telling these extremely lame jokes all night.

adjective
0
0
To cause a person or animal to become lame.
verb
0
0
noun
0
0
(in the plural) A set of joined, overlapping metal plates.
noun
0
0
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(obsolete) To shine.

verb
0
0
The definition of lame is being physically disabled causing a limp or something that is weak and unsatisfactory.

An example of lame is a person who has trouble walking.

An example of lame is a poor excuse for missing an important occasion.

adjective
0
1
(informal) Dull or unsatisfactory.

That movie was so lame!

adjective
0
1
(slang) Socially inappropriate; foolish.
adjective
0
1
the lame
  • those who are crippled by an injured or deformed leg or foot
idiom
1
0
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Other Word Forms

Adjective

Base Form:
lame
Comparative:
lamer
Superlative:
lamest

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

the lame

Origin of lame

  • French spangled, laminated, lamé from Old French lame thin metal plate lame2

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • French from Old French from Latin lāmina thin plate

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English from Old English lama

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Old English lama, from the Proto-Germanic *lama-, from Proto-Indo-European *lem- (“to crush; fragile”). Akin to German lahm and Dutch lam, Old Norse lami, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian lam, akin to Old Church Slavonic ломити (lomiti, “to break”).

    From Wiktionary

  • From Middle French lame, from Latin lamina.

    From Wiktionary

Lame Sentence Examples

  • He was lame for the rest of his days.

  • He muttered some lame excuse, feigning making an error.

  • Five sets of predatory eyes fell to her, as if realizing there was a lame lamb in their midst.

  • He was lame and of weakly health.

  • Above these, marine Rhaetic beds appear at intervals, notably near Lame, where they are succeeded by Lower Lias shales and limestones.

More sentences

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Also Mentioned In

Words near lame in the Dictionary