lean

I

[[t]lin[/t]]

v. leaned (esp. brit.)leant, lean•ing,

1) to incline or bend from a vertical position:

to lean out the window[/ex]

2) to incline, as in a particular direction; slant:

The post leans to the left[/ex]

3) to incline in feeling, opinion, action, etc.:

to lean toward socialism[/ex]

4) to rest or lie for support:

to lean against a wall[/ex]

5) to depend or rely (usu. fol. by on or upon):

someone to lean on in an emergency[/ex]

6) to incline or bend:

He leaned his head forward[/ex]

7) to cause to lean or rest; prop:

to lean a chair against a railing[/ex]

8) phv+inf lean on, Informal. to pressure or threaten

9) the act or state of leaning; inclination

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Etymology: bef. 900; ME lenen, OE hleonian, hlinian, c. OShlinōn, OHG (h)linēn II

lean

[[t]lin[/t]] adj., -er, -est, n.

1) (of persons or animals) without much flesh or fat; thin:

lean cattle[/ex]

2) (of meat) containing little or no fat

3) lacking in richness, fullness, quantity, etc.:

a lean diet; lean years[/ex]

4) spare; economical

5) aum (of a mixture in a fuel system) having a relatively low ratio of fuel to air

(contrasted with rich 13)).

6) (of paint) having more pigment than oil

Compare fat 17)

7) mel (of ore) having a low mineral content

8) the part of flesh that consists of muscle rather than fat

9) the lean part of anything

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Etymology: bef. 1000; ME lene, OE hlǣne lean′ly, adv. lean′ness, n.