lambaste

WOTD - 14 June 2007    

English

Alternative forms

• lambast (UK)

Etymology

First attested in 1637. Probably lam (“beat”) +‎ baste (“beat”)

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /læmˈbæst/
• (US) IPA: /læmˈbæst/, /læmˈbeɪst/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æst

Verb

lambaste (third-person singular simple present lambastes, present participle lambasting, simple past and past participle lambasted)

1. To scold, reprimand or criticize harshly.

   The sergeant lambasted the new recruits daily.

   Her first novel was well and truly lambasted by the critics.

2. (dated) To give a thrashing to; to beat severely.

Synonyms

• (to give a thrashing to): beat, hit, thrash
• (to scold or verbally reprimand): berate, scold, tell off

Translations

to scold or verbally reprimand

Dutch: berispen (nl), uitschelden (nl), afkraken (nl) Finnish: läksyttää (fi), haukkua (fi), ojentaa (fi)

French: blamer (fr), reprimander (fr), gronder (fr) German: beschimpfen, zurechtweisen

to give a thrashing to

Dutch: iemand aframmelen (nl), iemand een pandoering geven (nl) Finnish: pieksää, kurittaa

French: tabbasser (fr), rouer de coups (fr),battre quelqu'un (fr) German: verdreschen, verprügeln

Anagrams

• blastema