Definition of: punish

(pun′ish) v.t.
1. To subject (a person) to pain, confinement, or other penalty for a crime or fault.
2. To subject the perpetrator of (an offense) to a penalty: to punish forgery.
3. To use roughly; injure; hurt.
4. To make heavy inroads upon; deplete, as a stock of food. See synonyms under AVENGE, CHASTEN, REQUITE. [<OF puniss-, stem of punir <L punire punish <poenire <poena a punishment, penalty, fine]
—pun′ish·er noun