WordGarden.iowhippy
C2Pronunciation
UK
US
Meanings
Adjective
thin, flexible, and springily bendable
light, whipped, or soft-serve in texture, especially of cream or ice cream
Beyond the definition
Think of a thin branch, a fishing rod, or a golf shaft that bends easily and springs back fast. That is the heart of "whippy." It mainly describes something long, light, and flexible rather than stiff. In British English, it can also be used for something soft and airy, especially in food, such as soft ice cream or a whipped texture. In both cases, the idea is the same: something lively, light, and not firm or heavy.
"Whippy" is an informal adjective used for something that bends easily, moves quickly, and often springs back instead of staying stiff. The image behind the word is a whip: thin, flexible, and fast in motion. Because of that, it often appears in descriptions of rods, branches, shoots, grasses, or sports equipment. A "whippy" fishing rod or golf shaft, for example, has a lot of flex. A "whippy" young tree or plant stem is slender and bendable rather than thick and firm.
The word can also be used for movement. If something moves in a quick, loose, lively way, especially because it is light and flexible, "whippy" can fit well. This use still comes back to the same core idea of spring and bend rather than weight and stiffness.
In British English, "whippy" may also describe something soft, airy, and whipped in texture, especially foods such as soft ice cream. Here the meaning is a little different, but the feeling is still of lightness rather than solidity. Overall, "whippy" is a vivid, sensory word for things that feel bendy, springy, quick, or lightly whipped.
Examples
- 1
Flexible materials
The basket was made from long, whippy willow branches.
- 2
Stage movement
Even after hours of dancing, she still looked light and whippy on stage.
- 3
Tennis shot
He hit a whippy forehand that stayed low and fast over the net.
- Domain
in tennis, a whippy forehand is a shot with a quick, flexible-looking swing
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- whippy rod
- whippy branches
- whippy stems
Word family
- whip
- whiplike
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- whippyadjective