flagellate

/ˈflædʒəleɪt/
verb
  1. To whip or beat someone, especially as a form of punishment or religious practice.
    • Some monks used to flagellate themselves as a way to show devotion.
    • In ancient Rome, guards would flagellate prisoners with leather straps.
    • The cruel master would flagellate any servant who disobeyed him.
Antonyms
noun
  1. A single-celled organism that moves using a flagellum (a long, whip-like tail).
    • Some flagellates live inside the guts of termites and help them digest wood.
    • The biologist identified the tiny creature as a type of flagellate.
    • A flagellate can be found in both fresh and salt water.
adjective
  1. Having a flagellum or flagella; whip-like in shape or motion.
    • The flagellate cells of certain algae are able to move through water.
    • Flagellate bacteria use their tails to swim toward food.
    • Under the microscope, the flagellate structure was clearly visible.
What does "flagellate" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean