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lame

adjective
\ ˈlām How to pronounce lame (audio) \
lamer; lamest

Definition of lame

 (Entry 1 of 5)

1a : having a body part and especially a limb so disabled as to impair freedom of movement The accident left him lame for life.
b : marked by stiffness and soreness a lame shoulder
2 : lacking needful or desirable substance : weak, ineffectual a lame excuse
3 slang : not being in the know : square She's cool, but her boyfriend is so lame.
4a : inferior a lame school
b : contemptible, nasty lame racist jokes

lame

verb
lamed; laming

Definition of lame (Entry 2 of 5)

transitive verb

1 : to make lame : cripple
2 : to make weak or ineffective : disable

lame

noun (1)

Definition of lame (Entry 3 of 5)

slang
: a person who is not in the know : square

lame

noun (2)
\ ˈlām How to pronounce lame (audio) , ˈlam How to pronounce lame (audio) \

Definition of lame (Entry 4 of 5)

1 : a thin plate especially of metal : lamina
2 lames plural : small overlapping steel plates joined to slide on one another (as in medieval armor)

lamé

noun (3)
la·​mé | \ lä-ˈmā How to pronounce lamé (audio) , la-\

Definition of lamé (Entry 5 of 5)

: a brocaded clothing fabric made from any of various fibers combined with tinsel filling threads
Other Words from lame Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about lame

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Other Words from lame

Adjective

lamely adverb
lameness noun

Examples of lame in a Sentence

Adjective

 The horse had gone lame, and it grew lamer. The accident left him lame for life. He offered a lame apology for his actions. She's nice, but her boyfriend is really lame.

Verb

 we were afraid that the horse would be lamed by its horrible fall
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First Known Use of lame

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1959, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

1922, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for lame

Adjective, Verb, and Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English lama; akin to Old High German lam lame, Lithuanian limti to break down

Noun (2)

Middle French, from Latin lamina

Noun (3)

French

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More Definitions for lame

lame

adjective

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apologia

play

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