noun
whip
WIHP
noun
1
A flexible rod or braided cord, often of leather, used to strike an animal or person, or to make a sharp cracking noise.
"The rider gave the horse a light touch with the whip to speed it up."
2
A politician responsible for making sure party members vote according to party policy.
"The party whip warned MPs that missing the vote would have consequences."
verb
1
To strike with a whip or similar flexible object.
"The jockey whipped the horse gently in the final stretch."
2
To beat food quickly, especially cream or eggs, so that it becomes light and airy.
"Whip the cream until soft peaks form."
"She whipped the eggs and sugar together until fluffy."
3
To move something suddenly and quickly.
"He whipped his phone out to take a photo of the accident."
"She whipped around when she heard her name called."
How to Use Whip
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tool for striking or a quick, sudden motion — and, separately, a party official who enforces voting discipline.
Common pairings
whip cream
whip out
party whip
crack the whip
Word Forms
whipped past tense, whips plural, whips singular
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Etymology
From Middle English whippen, "to move suddenly", related to Dutch wippen ("to swing or bounce") — the political sense comes from "whipper-in", the huntsman who kept hounds from straying, borrowed into parliamentary slang in the 1700s.