punish: Meaning and Definition of

pun•ish

1. to subject to pain, loss, confinement, death, etc., as a penalty for some offense, transgression, or fault: to punish a criminal.
2. to inflict a penalty for (an offense, fault, etc.): to punish theft.
3. to handle severely or roughly, as in a fight.
4. to put to painful exertion, as a horse in racing.
5. to make a heavy inroad on; deplete: to punish a quart of whiskey.

1. to inflict punishment.