Final answer:
The word that matches "whip" in the context of decisively defeating someone in a competition is "trounce" because it conveys a sense of a severe or decisive victory. The correct option is a.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which of the following words matches the word "whip": a) trounce, b) defeat, c) beat, d) conquer. The word "whip" in a non-literal sense often means to defeat someone decisively in a competition or fight, similar to how one might use a whip quickly and with force.
Therefore, the word that best matches "whip" in this context would be a) trounce, which means to defeat someone heavily in a competition.
While "defeat", "beat", and "conquer" could also be associated with "whip", "trounce" specifically conveys the sense of a decisive or severe defeat, which closely aligns with the metaphorical use of "whip". The correct option is a.