whip / (h)wip/ • n. 1. a strip of leather or length of cord fastened to a handle, used for flogging or beating a person or for urging on an animal. ∎ fig. a thing causing mental or physical pain or acting as a stimulus to action: councils are attempting to find new sites under the whip of a powerful agency.2. a thing or person resembling a whip in form or function: a licorice whip. ∎  a utensil such as a whisk or an eggbeater for beating cream, eggs, or other food. ∎  a slender, unbranched shoot or plant. ∎ short for whipper-in. ∎ short for whip antenna. ∎  a scythe for cutting specified crops: a grass whip. ∎  a rope-and-pulley hoisting apparatus.3. an official of a political party appointed to maintain discipline among its members in Congress or Parliament, esp. so as to ensure attendance and voting in debates.4. a dessert consisting of cream or eggs beaten into a light fluffy mass with fruit, chocolate, or other ingredients.5. [in sing.] a violent striking or beating movement. ∎  [in sing.] in metaphorical use referring to something that acts as a stimulus to work or action: the governor cracked the whip in the city.• v. (whipped, whip·ping) [tr.] 1. beat (a person or animal) with a whip or similar instrument, esp. as a punishment or to urge them on. ∎  (of a flexible object or rain or wind) strike or beat violently: the wind whipped their faces | [intr.] ferns and brambles whipped at him. ∎  beat (cream, eggs, or other food) into a froth. ∎  (whip someone into) urge or rouse someone into (a specified state or position): the radio host whipped his listeners into a frenzy the city had been whipped into shape. ∎ inf. (of a player or team) defeat (a person or team) heavily in a sporting contest.2. [intr.] move fast or suddenly in a specified direction: I whipped around the corner. ∎  [tr.] take out or move (something) fast or suddenly: he whipped out his revolver and shot him.3. bind (something) with spirally wound twine. ∎  sew or gather (something) with overcast stitches.PHRASES: the whip hand a position of power or control over someone.whip someone's asssee ass² .PHRASAL VERBS: whip in act as whipper-in.whip something out (or off) write something hurriedly: you'll find the software ideal for whipping out memos and proposals.whip someone up deliberately excite someone into having a strong feeling or reaction: Dad had managed to whip himself up into a fantastic rage.whip something up1. cause water, sand, etc., to rise up and be flung about in a violent manner: the sea was whipped up by a force-nine gale. ∎  stimulate a particular feeling in someone: we tried hard to whip up interest in the products.2. make or prepare something, typically something to eat, very quickly.DERIVATIVES: whip·like / -ˌlīk/ adj.whip·per n.

whip an official of a political party appointed to maintain parliamentary discipline among its members, especially so as to ensure attendance and voting in debates. The term is recorded from the mid 19th century, and is a shortening of whipper-in, literally a huntsman's assistant who keeps the hounds from straying by driving them back with the whip into the main body of the pack.

whip move briskly XIII; strike with a whip XIV; overlay with cord, thread, etc. XV. ME. (h)wippen, prob. — (M)LG., (M)Du. wippen swing, vacillate, leap (= MHG. wipfen dance), f. Gmc. *wip- move quickly.
So whip sb. instrument of flagellation XIV; †brisk movement XVI.

whip (slapstick) (Fr. fouet; Ger. Holzklapper; It. frusta). Instr. in form of wooden clapper, comprising two pieces of wood hinged at base to form handle. The pieces are struck together rapidly. Used by Mahler (7th sym.), Ravel (pf. conc. in G), and Britten (several works).

whip UK government officer whose duty is to see that government supporters attend debates and vote in divisions. It is also the name for the notices that they send to members of Parliament. There are also opposition whips.