HAMSTRING (hamstrung)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: hamstrung   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hamstring mean? 

• HAMSTRING (noun)
  The noun HAMSTRING has 1 sense:

1. one of the tendons at the back of the knee

  Familiarity information: HAMSTRING used as a noun is very rare.

• HAMSTRING (verb)
  The verb HAMSTRING has 2 senses:

1. make ineffective or powerless

2. cripple by cutting the hamstring

  Familiarity information: HAMSTRING used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HAMSTRING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

One of the tendons at the back of the knee

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

hamstring; hamstring tendon

Hypernyms ("hamstring" is a kind of...):

sinew; tendon (a cord or band of inelastic tissue connecting a muscle with its bony attachment)

Derivation:

hamstring (cripple by cutting the hamstring)

• HAMSTRING (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they hamstring    ... he / she / it hamstrings   
Past simple: hamstrung   
Past participle: hamstrung   
-ing form: hamstringing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make ineffective or powerless

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Context example:

The teachers were hamstrung by the overly rigid schedules

Hypernyms (to "hamstring" is one way to...):

bedevil; crucify; dun; frustrate; rag; torment (treat cruelly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to hamstring Sue

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cripple by cutting the hamstring

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "hamstring" is one way to...):

cripple; lame (deprive of the use of a limb, especially a leg)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

hamstring (one of the tendons at the back of the knee)