Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Lean
Lean
(lēn)
, Verb.
T.
[Icel.
leyna
; akin to G. läugnen
to deny, AS. lȳgnian
, also E. lie
to speak falsely.] To conceal.
[Obs.]
Ray.
Lean
(lēn)
, Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Leaned
(lēnd)
, sometimes Leant
(lĕnt); p. pr. & vb. n.
Leaning
.] 1.
To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating;
“He leant forward.” as, she
leaned
out at the window; a leaning
column. 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
,Verb.
T.
To cause to lean; to incline; to support or rest.
Mrs. Browning.
His fainting limbs against an oak he
leant
. Dryden.
Lean
(lēn)
, Adj.
[
Com
par.
Leaner
(lēn′ẽr)
; sup
erl.
Leanest
.] 1.
Wanting flesh; destitute of or deficient in fat; slim; not plump; slender; 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;
“No lean wardrobe.” as, the
lean
harvest; a lean
purse; a lean
discourse; lean
wages. Shak.
Their
lean
and flashy songs. Milton.
What the land is, whether it be fat or
lean
. Num. xiii. 20.
Out of my
I’ll lend you something.
lean
and low abilityI’ll lend you something.
Shakespeare
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.
1.
That part of flesh which consists 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 1828 Edition
Lean
LEAN
,Verb.
I.
1.
To deviate or move from a straight or perpendicular line; or to be in a position thus deviating. We say, a column leans to the north or to the east; it leans to the right or left.2.
To incline or propend; to tend toward.They delight rather to lean to their old customs -
3.
To bend or incline so as to rest on something; as, to lean against a wall or a pillar; to lean on the arm of another.4.
To bend; to be in a bending posture.LEAN
, v.t.1.
To incline; to cause to lean.2.
To conceal. [Not in use.]LEAN
,Adj.
1.
Wanting flesh; meager; not fat; as a lean body; a lean man or animal.2.
Not rich; destitute of good qualities; bare; barren; as lean earth.3.
Low; poor; in opposition to rich or great; as a lean action. [Unusual.]4.
Barren of thought; destitute of that which improves or entertains; jejune; as a lean discourse or dissertation.LEAN
,Noun.