noun

lashing

LA-shihng

noun

A cord, rope, or strap used to tie or bind something down.

"They checked the lashings on the cargo before the ferry left port."

"A loose lashing let the tarp flap in the wind."

A heavy downpour of rain, or a beating.

"The lashing rain made it impossible to see the road."

(informal, usually plural "lashings") A generous amount of something.

"The pudding came with lashings of custard."

How to Use Lashing

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething used to tie things down tightly, or (informally) a large helping of something.

Common mistake

"Lashings of" is a mainly British, slightly old-fashioned way of saying "loads of" — it sounds odd in American English.

Common pairings

lashings of cream secure the lashings a lashing of rain

lashings plural

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Can you complete this real example?

They checked the _____ on the cargo before the ferry left port.

Formed from lash plus the suffix -ing.

dashing washing bashing smashing flashing crashing clashing trashing slashing thrashing splashing squashing