1 : to hit (a person or animal) with a whip, stick, or something similar [+ obj] ▪ The sailor was lashed for disobeying the captain. [no obj] — + at ▪ The jockey lashed (away) at the horse with his whip. 2 : to hit (something) with force [+ obj] ▪ Rain lashed the side of the house. ▪ Waves lashed the shore. [no obj] — + at ▪ Waves lashed at the shore. 3 : to make a sudden and angry attack against (someone) [+ obj] ▪ The singer lashed her critics with angry words. [no obj] — + at ▪ The singer lashed back at her critics. — often used in the phrase lash out at ▪ He lashed out at the government for its failure to cut taxes. ▪ The cat suddenly lashed out at me when I tried to pet it. 4 [+ obj] : to cause (a group of people) to become angry or violent — + into ▪ He lashed [=whipped] the mob into a fury with his violent words. 5 of an animal : to move (the tail) from side to side in a forceful way [+ obj] ▪ The tiger lashed its tail. [no obj] ▪ The tiger's tail was lashing from side to side.