lean Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the vertical
    tilt; list; leaning; inclination.
    • the tower had a pronounced tilt
    • the ship developed a list to starboard
    • he walked with a heavy inclination to the right
  2. verb to incline or bend from a vertical position
    tilt; tip; slant; angle.
    • She leaned over the banister
  3. verb cause to lean or incline
    • He leaned his rifle against the wall
  4. verb have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined
    run; incline; be given; tend.
    • She tends to be nervous before her lectures
    • These dresses run small
    • He inclined to corpulence
  5. verb rely on for support
    • We can lean on this man
  6. verb cause to lean to the side
    list.
    • Erosion listed the old tree
  7. adjective lacking excess flesh
    thin.
    • you can't be too rich or too thin
    • Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look"-Shakespeare
  8. adjective lacking in mineral content or combustible material
    • lean ore
    • lean fuel
  9. adjective satellite containing little excess
    skimpy.
    • a lean budget
    • a skimpy allowance
  10. adjective satellite not profitable or prosperous
    • a lean year

WordNet

Lean transitive verb
Etymology
Icel. leyna; akin to G. läugnen to deny, AS. lgnian, also E. lie to speak falsely.
Definitions
  1. To conceal. Obs. Ray.
Lean intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. lenen, AS. hlinian, hleonian, v. i.; akin to OS. hlinon, D. leunen, OHG. hlinen, linen, G. lehnen, L. inclinare, Gr. , L. clivus hill, slope. Cf. Declivity, Climax, Incline, Ladder.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Leaned sometimes Leant (); present participle & verbal noun Leaning
Definitions
  1. To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating; as, she leaned out at the window; a leaning column. "He leant forward." Dickens.
  2. To incline in opinion or desire; to conform in conduct; -- with to, toward, etc.
    They delight rather to lean to their old customs. Spenser.
  3. To rest or rely, for support, comfort, and the like; -- with on, upon, or against.
    He leaned not on his fathers but himself. Tennyson.
Lean transitive verb
Etymology
From Lean, v. i. ; AS. hlnan, v. t., fr. hleonian, hlinian, v. i.
Definitions
  1. To cause to lean; to incline; to support or rest. Mrs. Browning.
    His fainting limbs against an oak he leant. Dryden.
Lean adjective
Etymology
OE. lene, AS. hlne; prob. akin to E. lean to incline. See Lean, v. i.
Wordforms
comparative Leaner ; superlative Leanest
Definitions
  1. Wanting flesh; destitute of or deficient in fat; not plump; meager; thin; lank; as, a lean body; a lean cattle.
  2. Wanting fullness, richness, sufficiency, or productiveness; deficient in quality or contents; slender; scant; barren; bare; mean; -- used literally and figuratively; as, the lean harvest; a lean purse; a lean discourse; lean wages. "No lean wardrobe." Shak.
    Their lean and fiashy songs. Milton.
    What the land is, whether it be fat or lean. Num. xiii. 20.
    Out of my lean and low ability I'll lend you something. Shak.
  3. (Typog.) Of a character which prevents the compositor from earning the usual wages; -- opposed to fat; as lean copy, matter, or type. Syn. -- slender; spare; thin; meager; lank; skinny; gaunt.
Lean noun
Definitions
  1. That part of flesh which consist principally of muscle without the fat.
    The fat was so white and the lean was so ruddy. Goldsmith.
  2. (Typog.) Unremunerative copy or work.

Webster 1913