Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Disabled in the feet or legs; unable to walk normally: Describes a person or animal that has an injury or disability affecting their ability to walk without difficulty.
   • Pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness; unconvincing: Describes an argument, excuse, or explanation that is weak, unsatisfactory, or poorly thought out.

2. Noun:

   • A fabric interwoven with threads of metal, such as gold or silver: A type of cloth that is shiny and often used for formal or decorative clothing.
   • (Slang, offensive) Someone who is naive, unaware, or doesn't understand what is going on: An informal and derogatory term for a person considered uncool or out of touch.

3. Verb:

   • To make lame; to cripple: To cause someone or an animal to become disabled in a limb, especially a leg.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The horse went lame after the race and needed veterinary care.
  • His excuse for being late was so lame that nobody believed him.
• Noun:
  • Her evening gown was made of a beautiful silver lame.
  • (Slang) He called me a lame for not knowing the latest meme.
• Verb:
  • The accident lamed the cyclist, confining him to a wheelchair.

Advanced Usage

• "To be lame" (Adjective, informal): To be unimpressive, boring, or unsatisfactory.
  • The party was lame because the music was terrible.
• "Lame duck" (Noun, idiomatic): A person or thing that is ineffective or powerless, especially an official whose term is about to end.
  • The outgoing president was considered a lame duck during his final months in office.

Variants and Related Words

• Lamely (adverb): In a weak or unconvincing manner.
  • He lamely tried to explain his absence.
• Lameness (noun): The state or condition of being lame.
  • The lameness of his argument was obvious to everyone.

Synonyms

• Adjective (disabled): Crippled, hobbled, limping.
• Adjective (weak): Feeble, flimsy, poor, unsatisfactory, unconvincing.
• Noun (fabric): Brocade, cloth of gold.
• Verb: Cripple, disable, incapacitate.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its usage is typically as a standard verb, adjective, or noun.)

Related Idioms

• "Lame excuse": A very poor or unbelievable excuse.
  • Forgetting your homework is a lame excuse.
• "Lame attempt": A weak or unsuccessful effort to do something.
  • His lame attempt at humor fell flat.

Adjective

1. disabled in the feet or legs
   • a crippled soldier
   • a game leg
2. pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
   • a feeble excuse
   • a lame argument

Noun

1. a fabric interwoven with threads of metal
   • she wore a gold lame dress
2. someone who doesn't understand what is going on

Verb

1. deprive of the use of a limb, especially a leg
   • The accident has crippled her for life