Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sound defeat: A decisive loss or beating in a competition or conflict.
   • The act of overcoming or outdoing: The action of defeating someone or something thoroughly.
   • Beating with a whip or strap or rope as a form of punishment: The act of striking a person repeatedly with a whip or similar object, typically as a penalty.
   • A sewing stitch passing over an edge diagonally: A type of stitch used in sewing to prevent fabric edges from fraying.

2. Adjective:

   • Smart and fashionable: (Informal) Describing something as very stylish, lively, or brisk.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The team suffered a severe whipping in the championship game. (Referring to a sound defeat)
  • The whipping of prisoners was a common punishment in the past. (Referring to beating as punishment)
  • She finished the seam with a neat whipping stitch. (Referring to a sewing technique)

• Adjective:

  • He arrived in a whipping new sports car. (Meaning a very smart and fashionable car)
  • The dialogue was whipping and full of energy. (Meaning smart and brisk)

Advanced Usage

• "to give someone a (good) whipping": To defeat someone decisively.

  • The champion gave the challenger a good whipping in the first round.

• "to stand in whipping": (Sewing) To have its edges secured with a whipping stitch.

  • The raw edge of the fabric needs to stand in whipping to prevent fraying.

Variants and Related Words

• Whip (verb/noun): The primary word. As a verb: to strike with a whip; to move quickly. As a noun: the instrument used for striking.
• Whipped (adjective): Having been beaten with a whip; (informally) completely controlled by or submissive to another person.
• Whipper (noun): A person who whips or administers a whipping.

Synonyms

• Noun (for punishment): Flogging, lashing, beating, thrashing.
• Noun (for defeat): Drubbing, trouncing, rout, crushing defeat.
• Adjective: Snappy, stylish, brisk, lively, sharp.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Compounds

• Whip up: To excite or stir up (feelings); to prepare something quickly.
  • The speaker whipped up the crowd's enthusiasm.
• Whip through: To complete something very quickly.
  • She whipped through her homework in an hour.

Related Idioms

• A whipping boy: A person who is blamed or punished for the mistakes or sins of others.
  • The junior manager became the whipping boy for the project's failure.
• To have the whip hand: To be in a position of control or authority.
  • After the merger, the larger company had the whip hand in all negotiations.

Adjective

1. smart and fashionable
   • snappy conversation
   • some sharp and whipping lines

Noun

1. the act of overcoming or outdoing
2. a sewing stitch passing over an edge diagonally
3. a sound defeat
4. beating with a whip or strap or rope as a form of punishment