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Lame Very Common

Lame has 10 different meanings across 3 categories:

Noun · Verb · Adjective

Definitions
Noun
1

someone who doesn't understand what is going on

"The new intern was so lame that he didn't get any of the jokes during the team meeting."

2

a fabric interwoven with threads of metal

"she wore a gold lame dress"

3

A stupid or undesirable person.

"The ancient knight's breastplate was reinforced by adding several layers of laminated steel to withstand the enemy's blows."

4

A lamina; a thin layer or plate of material, as in certain kinds of armor.

In plain English: A lame person is someone who has trouble walking because of an injury to their leg or foot.

"The car's brake line is completely lame and needs to be fixed immediately."

Usage: The noun form refers specifically to the lamina, which is a thin layer or plate used in certain types of armor. This technical meaning differs from the common adjective describing someone who cannot walk properly due to an injury.

Verb
1

deprive of the use of a limb, especially a leg

"The accident has crippled her for life"

2

To cause (a person or animal) to become lame.

"The lame duck sun dipped below the horizon, casting a faint glow on the water."

3

To shine.

In plain English: To lame someone is to make them unable to walk properly by injuring their legs.

"The new software update will not help if you continue to drive this process on your own without expert guidance."

Adjective
1

pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness

"a feeble excuse"

"a lame argument"

2

disabled in the feet or legs

"a crippled soldier"

"a game leg"

3

Unable to walk properly because of a problem with one's feet or legs.

"After twisting his ankle, he was too lame to run down the stairs without support."

In plain English: Lame means not very good, interesting, or impressive.

"After twisting his ankle, he struggled to walk without limping on his lame foot."

Example Sentences
"After twisting his ankle, he struggled to walk without limping on his lame foot." adj
"The car's brake line is completely lame and needs to be fixed immediately." noun
"The new software update will not help if you continue to drive this process on your own without expert guidance." verb
See Also
unable lameoid lameo sweet fail walk halt lamina
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
simpleton fabric maim
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
hamstring

Origin

The word "lame" comes directly from Old English and originally meant being physically unable to walk properly. It has retained this core meaning in modern English, tracing its roots back through Germanic languages to an ancient Indo-European root related to breaking or tiring out.

Rhyming Words
ame hame game same jame mame wame fame name came tame rame dame plame arame shame thame syame brame blame
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