Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Lean?

\Lean\ (l[=e]n), v. t. [Icel. leyna; akin to G. l["a]ugnen to deny, AS. l[=y]gnian, also E. lie to speak falsely.] To conceal. [Obs.] --Ray.
\Lean\ (l[=e]n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Leaned} (l[=e]nd), sometimes {Leant} (l[e^]nt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Leaning}.] [OE. lenen, AS. hlinian, hleonian, v. i.; akin to OS. hlin[=o]n, D. leunen, OHG. hlin[=e]n, lin[=e]n, G. lehnen, L. inclinare, Gr. kli`nein, L. clivus hill, slope. [root]40. Cf. {Declivity}, {Climax}, {Incline}, {Ladder}.] 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\, v. t. [From {Lean}, v. i.; AS. hl[=ae]nan, v. t., fr. hleonian, hlinian, v. i.] To cause to lean; to incline; to support or rest. --Mrs. Browning. His fainting limbs against an oak he leant. --Dryden.
\Lean\ (l[=e]n), a. [Compar. {Leaner} (l[=e]n"[~e]r); superl. {Leanest}.] [OE. lene, AS. hl[=ae]ne; prob. akin to E. lean to incline. See {Lean}, v. i. ] 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\, n. 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.