whip

noun whips

1. A lash; a pliant, flexible instrument, such as a rod (commonly of cane or rattan) or a plaited or braided rope or thong (commonly of leather) used to create a sharp "crack" sound for directing or herding animals. I had to use the whip to get the sheep's attention.
2. The same instrument used to strike a person or animal for corporal punishment or torture. Once he ran out of appeals, he knew he would soon feel the sting of the whip.

   Similar: cat, cat-o'-nine-tails, flail, knout, lash, quirt, scourge, sjambok, thong

3. A blow administered with a whip. I had hardly said the word, when Kit jumped into the saddle, and gave his horse a whip and a spur — and off it cantered, as if it were in as great a hurry to be married as Kit himself.
4. A whipper-in. At half-past ten, Tom Moody, Sir Huddlestone Fuddlestone's huntsman, was seen trotting up the avenue, followed by the noble pack of hounds in a compact body—the rear being brought up by the two whips clad in stained scarlet frocks—light hard-featured lads on well-bred lean horses, possessing marvell
5. A member of a political party who is in charge of enforcing the party's policies in votes. I was going to vote against the bill, but the party whip came to see me and made it clear I needed to vote for it.

   Similar: party whip, whipper-in

6. UK, with definite article A document distributed weekly to MPs by party whips informing them of upcoming votes in parliament.
7. UK, broadly The regular status of an MP within a parliamentary party, which can be revoked by the party as a disciplinary measure. to withdraw the whip
8. Whipped cream. Did you want to add some whip to your coffee, ma'am?
9. A purchase in which one block is used to gain a 2:1 mechanical advantage.
10. A mode of personal motorized transportation; an automobile, all makes and models including motorcycles, excluding public transportation. Come on, let's take my whip so we can get there in time.
11. A move in which one player transfers momentum to another.
12. A whipping motion; a thrashing about. I was startled by the whip of the rope when it finally snapped.
13. The quality of being whiplike or flexible; suppleness, as of the shaft of a golf club.
14. A spring in certain electrical devices for making a circuit
15. A wippen, a rocking component in certain piano actions.
16. historical A coach driver; a coachman. Lord Carington […] led the way with his chestnuts, having a distinguished brother whip, Lord Londesborough, by his side.

Similar: crop, dressage whip, driving whip, jumping bat, flail, knout, lash, quirt, scourge, sjambok, thong

verb whips · whipping · whipped

1. transitive To hit with a whip. The rider whipped the horse.
2. broadly, transitive To hit with any flexible object. I whipped her with a newspaper.
3. slang, transitive To defeat, as in a contest or game. She whips me in the first game of pool, I do not even get a shot. Eight-balled from the break.
4. transitive To mix in a rapid aerating fashion, especially food. to whip eggs or cream
5. transitive To urge into action or obedience. He whipped the department into shape.
6. transitive To enforce a member voting in accordance with party policy.
7. transitive To bind the end of a rope with twine or other small stuff to prevent its unlaying: fraying or unravelling. 1677-1683, Joseph Moxon, Mechanick exercises Its string […] is firmly whipt about with small Gut
8. transitive To hoist or purchase by means of a whip.
9. To sew lightly; specifically, to form (a fabric) into gathers by loosely overcasting the rolled edge and drawing up the thread. to whip a ruffle
10. transitive To throw or kick an object at a high velocity. He whipped the ball at me.

    Similar: fling, hurl, bung, cast, chuck, chunk, cook, dash, dump, feck, jerk, heave

11. ambitransitive To fish a body of water especially by making repeated casts. whipping its rough surface for a trout
12. intransitive To snap back and forth like a whip. The pennants whipped in the wind.
13. intransitive To move very fast. The wind whipped through the valley.

    Similar: flail

14. transitive To move (something) very fast; often with up, out, etc. She,[…] in a hurry, whips up her Darling under her Arm.
15. transitive To transfer momentum from one skater to another.
16. figuratively To lash with sarcasm, abuse, etc. They would whip me with their fine wits.
17. To thrash; to beat out, as grain, by striking. to whip wheat

Similar: thrash, thresh, belt, birch, cut, feague, flagellate, flog, knout, lash, lather, quirt, scourge, scutch, slash, strap, stripe, whip, whoop, yark

noun

1. abbreviation, acronym Acronym of walks plus hits per inning pitched; a statistic of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched.