FLAIL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does flail mean? 

• FLAIL (noun)
  The noun FLAIL has 1 sense:

1. an implement consisting of handle with a free swinging stick at the end; used in manual threshing

  Familiarity information: FLAIL used as a noun is very rare.

• FLAIL (verb)
  The verb FLAIL has 2 senses:

1. give a thrashing to; beat hard

2. move like a flail; thresh about

  Familiarity information: FLAIL used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FLAIL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An implement consisting of handle with a free swinging stick at the end; used in manual threshing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("flail" is a kind of...):

implement (instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end)

Derivation:

flail (give a thrashing to; beat hard)

• FLAIL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they flail    ... he / she / it flails   
Past simple: flailed   
Past participle: flailed   
-ing form: flailing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Give a thrashing to; beat hard

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

flail; lam; thrash; thresh

Hypernyms (to "flail" is one way to...):

beat; beat up; work over (give a beating to; subject to a beating, either as a punishment or as an act of aggression)

Verb group:

bat; clobber; cream; drub; lick; thrash (beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

They want to flail the prisoners

Derivation:

flail (an implement consisting of handle with a free swinging stick at the end; used in manual threshing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Move like a flail; thresh about

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

flail; thresh

Context example:

Her arms were flailing

Hypernyms (to "flail" is one way to...):

beat; flap (move with a flapping motion)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

 Context examples 

I observed, here and there, many in the habit of servants, with a blown bladder, fastened like a flail to the end of a stick, which they carried in their hands.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

I was the flail of the Lord up in those parts, I may tell you, though you won't find it in any Blue-book.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)