lame

1
[ leym ]
/ leɪm /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR lame ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, lam·er, lam·est.

crippled or physically disabled, especially in the foot or leg so as to limp or walk with difficulty.
impaired or disabled through defect or injury: a lame arm.
weak; inadequate; unsatisfactory; clumsy: a lame excuse.
Slang. out of touch with modern fads or trends; unsophisticated.

verb (used with object), lamed, lam·ing.

to make lame or defective.

noun

Slang. a person who is out of touch with modern fads or trends, especially one who is unsophisticated.

Origin of lame

1
before 900; Middle English (adj. and v.); Old English lama (adj.); cognate with Dutch lam, German lahm, Old Norse lami; akin to Lithuanian lúomas

OTHER WORDS FROM lame

lame·ly, adverb lame·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH lame

lame lamé

Words nearby lame

lambrequin, lambrinudi operation, lambrusco, lambskin, lamda, lame, lame duck, lame-duck session, lamebrain, lamech, lamed

Definition for lame (2 of 3)

lame 2
[ leym; French lam ]
/ leɪm; French lam /

noun, plural lames [leym; French lam] /leɪm; French lam/. Armor.

any of a number of thin, overlapping plates composing a piece of plate armor, as a fauld, tasset, or gauntlet.

Origin of lame

2
1580–90; < Middle French < Latin lāmina a thin piece or plate

Definition for lame (3 of 3)

lamé
[ lah-mey, la-; French la-mey ]
/ lɑˈmeɪ, læ-; French laˈmeɪ /

noun

an ornamental fabric in which metallic threads, as of gold or silver, are woven with silk, wool, rayon, or cotton.

Origin of lamé

1920–25; < French, equivalent to lame lame2 + -é < Latin -ātus -ate1

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH lamé

lame lamé

Content related to lame

Eight Words To Use Instead Of “Lame” Want to make sure your communication skills aren't lame? Drop that word from your vocab! Here are some superior alternatives to "lame."
READ MORE

Words related to lame

sore, flimsy, disabled, halt, stiff, deformed, pained, handicapped, raw, game, hobbling, bruised, gimp, poor, thin, faltering, gimpy, faulty, flabby, inadequate

Example sentences from the Web for lame

British Dictionary definitions for lame (1 of 3)

lame 1
/ (leɪm) /

adjective

disabled or crippled in the legs or feet
painful or weak a lame back
weak; unconvincing a lame excuse
not effective or enthusiastic a lame try
US slang conventional or uninspiring

verb

(tr) to make lame

Derived forms of lame

lamely, adverb lameness, noun

Word Origin for lame

Old English lama; related to Old Norse lami, German lahm

British Dictionary definitions for lame (2 of 3)

lame 2
/ (leɪm) /

noun

one of the overlapping metal plates used in armour after about 1330; splint

Word Origin for lame

C16: via Old French from Latin lāmina a thin plate, lamina

British Dictionary definitions for lame (3 of 3)

lamé
/ (ˈlɑːmeɪ) /

noun

  1. a fabric of silk, cotton, or wool interwoven with threads of metal
  2. (as modifier)a gold lamé gown

Word Origin for lamé

from French, from Old French lame gold or silver thread, thin plate, from Latin lāmina thin plate

Medical definitions for lame

lame
[ lām ]

adj.

Disabled so that movement, especially walking, is difficult or impossible.
Marked by pain or rigidness.

v.

To cause to become lame; cripple.