v. & n.
—v. (past and past part. leaned or leant)
1 intr. & tr. (often foll. by across, back, over, etc.) be or place in a sloping position; incline from the perpendicular.
2 intr. & tr. (foll. by against, on, upon) rest or cause to rest for support against etc.
3 intr. (foll. by on, upon) rely on; derive support from.
4 intr. (foll. by to, towards) be inclined or partial to; have a tendency towards.
—n. a deviation from the perpendicular; an inclination (has a decided lean to the right).
Phrases and idioms:
lean on colloq. put pressure on (a person) to act in a certain way. lean over backwards see BACKWARDS. lean-to (pl. -tos) a building with its roof leaning against a larger building or a wall.
Etymology: OE hleonian, hlinian f. Gmc
2.
adj. & n.
—adj.
1 (of a person or animal) thin; having no superfluous fat.
2 (of meat) containing little fat.
3 a meagre; of poor quality (lean crop). b not nourishing (lean diet).
4 unremunerative.
—n. the lean part of meat.
Phrases and idioms:
lean years years of scarcity.
Derivatives:
leanly adv. leanness n.
Etymology: OE hlaeligne f. Gmc
Useful english dictionary. 2012.