In wire-drawing, to raise (a wire rod or bar of small section) high in the air and throw it heavily against a flat smooth plate on the ground in order to straighten it or to loosen the scale and dirt.To beat out or separate the grain or seeds from, by means of a flail or a threshing-machine, or by treading with oxen: in this sense commonly thresh.To beat soundly, as with a stick or whip; drub; hence, to beat in any way: in this sense commonly thrash.To practise threshing; beat out grain from straw with a flail or a threshing-machine: in this sense commonly thresh.To beat about; labor; drudge; toil.To throw one's self about; toss to and fro: usually with about: in this sense commonly thrash.n. See thrash.