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Added 4 October 2026

lean

/ˈliːn/ verb

Categories: ActionsMind & IdeasUncommon Words

In Latin: nītor Wiktionary

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about lean at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating.
    a leaning column
  2. To incline in opinion or desire; to conform in conduct; often with to, toward, etc.
    I’m leaning towards voting Conservative in the next election.
  3. To rest or rely, for support, comfort, to use as a hard surface for writing, etc.

noun

  1. An inclination away from the vertical.
    The trees had various leans toward gaps in the canopy.

adjective

  1. Slim; not fleshy.
  2. Having little fat.
    lean steak cuts
  3. Having little extra or little to spare; scanty; meagre.
    a lean budget

noun

  1. Meat with no fat on it.
  2. An organism that is lean in stature.

Origin

From Middle English lenen (“to lean”), from Old English hleonian, hlinian (“to lean, recline, lie down, rest”), from Proto-West Germanic *hlinēn, from Proto-Germanic *hlināną (“to lean, incline”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱley-. Cognate via Proto-Germanic with Middle Dutch leunen (“to lean”), German lehnen (“to lean”); via Proto-Indo-European with climate, cline.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: inclinationinclinetiltslantruntrimwiryshrunkenshrivelledshriveledpinchedthin

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