lame

/leɪm/

/leɪm/

Other forms: lamed; laming; lamer; lames; lamest

You might describe a limping dog that's lost the use of one of its legs as lame, which means "disabled in a leg or foot."

It's less common than describing injured animals as lame, but sometimes you'll hear the word lame used to describe a limping person too. This usage is generally considered to be outdated or inappropriate. Lame is probably most often used to mean generally weak or pathetic — but many people consider this usage to be offensive as well.

Definitions of lame

1. adjective

   disabled in the feet or legs
   synonyms: crippled, game, gimpy, halt, halting

   unfit

   not in good physical or mental condition; out of condition
2. verb

   deprive of the use of a limb, especially a leg
   synonyms: cripple

   types:

   hamstring

   cripple by cutting the hamstring

   type of:

   maim

   injure or wound seriously and leave permanent disfiguration or mutilation
3. adjective

   pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
   “a lame argument”

   synonyms: feeble

   weak

   wanting in physical strength
4. noun

   someone who doesn't understand what is going on
   synonyms: square

   type of:

   simple, simpleton

   a person lacking intelligence or common sense
5. noun

   a fabric interwoven with threads of metal
   “she wore a gold lame dress”

   type of:

   cloth, fabric, material, textile

   artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers