lean

lean
1 verb past tense and past participle leaned or leant, especially BrE
1 (intransitive always + adv/prep) to move or bend your body in a particular direction
(+ forward/back etc): Robert was leaning forward, talking to the people in front. | They were leaning over her, trying to wake her up.
2 (I) to slope or bend from an upright position: trees leaning in the wind
3 (intransitive always + adv/prep) to support yourself or be supported in a sloping position against a wall or other surface
(+ on/against): He was leaning on the bar with a drink in his hand. | There was a ladder leaning against the wall.
4 (transitive always + adv/prep) to put something in a sloping position where it is supported: lean sth on/against sth: Gail leant her head on his shoulder.
lean on sb/sth phrasal verb (T)
1 to depend on someone or something for support and encouragement, especially at a difficult time: It's good to know you've got friends to lean on.
2 informal to try to influence someone, especially by threatening them: lean on sb to do sth: Lean on them to pay up.
lean towards sth phrasal verb (T) to tend to support, or begin to support, a particular set of opinions, beliefs etc: My wife is voting Democrat but I'm leaning towards the Republicans. 2 adjective
1 thin in a healthy and attractive way: lean and athletic looking
-see thin 1
2 lean meat does not have much fat on it
3 a lean organization, company etc uses only as much money and as many people as it needs, so that nothing is wasted
4 a lean period is a very difficult time because there is not enough money, business etc: a lean year for business
- leanness noun (U) 3 noun (U) the fleshy part of meat and not the bone or fat

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • lean — [liːn] adjective 1. COMMERCE using the most effective methods and the fewest employees possible: • In the struggle to turn the company into a lean commercial outfit, some lines have been discontinued altogether. 2. MANUFACTURING lean… …   Financial and business terms

  • 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; slim; not plump; slender; meager; thin; lank;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lean — lean1 [lēn] vi. leaned or Chiefly Brit. leant, leaning [ME lenen < OE hlinian, to lean, hlænan, to cause to lean, akin to Ger lehnen < IE base * k̑lei , to incline, lean > Gr klinein, L clinare] 1. to bend or deviate from an upright… …   English World dictionary

  • lean — lean; lean·er; lean·ing; lean·ness; or·lean; or·lean·ist; ce·ru·lean; ar·is·to·te·lean; mephis·tophe·lean; …   English syllables

  • lean — Ⅰ. lean [1] ► VERB (past and past part. leaned or chiefly Brit. leant) 1) be in or move into a sloping position. 2) (lean against/on) incline from the perpendicular and rest against. 3) (lean on) rely on for sup …   English terms dictionary

  • Lean — or LEAN may refer to:* Lean, also called purple drank sizzurp, or syrup, a recreational drug based on cough syrup * Lean Laboratory, one which is focused on testing products and materials to deliver results in the most efficient way * Lean… …   Wikipedia

  • Lean — puede referirse a: Personas David Lean, director de cine británico. Sistemas de gestión Lean manufacturing, filosofía de gestión enfocada a la reducción de los desperdicios en el proceso productivo. Lean software development La metodología de… …   Wikipedia Español

  • lean — vb *slant, slope, incline Analogous words: bend, *curve: *turn, deflect, divert, sheer lean adj Lean, spare, lank, lanky, gaunt, rawboned, angular, scrawny, skinny mean thin because of absence of super fluous flesh. Lean stresses the lack of fat… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Lean — ist: die Kurzbezeichnung für Lean Management (engl. für Schlankes Management) der Name einer Anti Gravitations Illusion von Michael Jackson, siehe Lean (Tanzpose) der Nachname von David Lean (1908–1991), britischer Filmregisseur Siehe auch: Lean… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Lean On Me — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Lean on Me est une chanson de Bill Withers enregistrée en 1972. Lean on Me est une chanson de Limp Bizkit enregistrée en 1995. Lean on Me est un film… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Lean on me — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Lean on Me est une chanson de Bill Withers enregistrée en 1972. Lean on Me est une chanson de Limp Bizkit enregistrée en 1995. Lean on Me est un film… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”