'Punish' definitions:

Definition of 'punish'

(from WordNet)
verb
Impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on; "The students were penalized for showing up late for class"; "we had to punish the dog for soiling the floor again" [syn: punish, penalize, penalise]

Definition of 'Punish'

From: GCIDE
  • Punish \Pun"ish\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Punished; p. pr. & vb. n. Punishing.] [OE. punischen, F. punir, from L. punire, punitum, akin to poena punishment, penalty. See Pain, and -ish.]
  • 1. To impose a penalty upon; to afflict with pain, loss, or suffering for a crime or fault, either with or without a view to the offender's amendment; to cause to suffer in retribution; to chasten; as, to punish traitors with death; a father punishes his child for willful disobedience. [1913 Webster]
  • A greater power Now ruled him, punished in the shape he sinned. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To inflict a penalty for (an offense) upon the offender; to repay, as a fault, crime, etc., with pain or loss; as, to punish murder or treason with death. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To injure, as by beating; to pommel. [Low] [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To deal with roughly or harshly; -- chiefly used with regard to a contest; as, our troops punished the enemy. [Colloq. or Slang] [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  • Syn: To chastise; castigate; scourge; whip; lash; correct; discipline. See Chasten. [1913 Webster]