Meaning & Definition of Lean in English

1. The property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the vertical

• "The tower had a pronounced tilt"

• "The ship developed a list to starboard"

• "He walked with a heavy inclination to the right"

1. To incline or bend from a vertical position

• "She leaned over the banister"

2. Cause to lean or incline

• "He leaned his rifle against the wall"

3. Have a tendency or disposition to do or be something

• Be inclined

• "She tends to be nervous before her lectures"

• "These dresses run small"

• "He inclined to corpulence"

4. Rely on for support

• "We can lean on this man"

5. Cause to lean to the side

• "Erosion listed the old tree"

1. Lacking excess flesh

• "You can't be too rich or too thin"

• "Yon cassius has a lean and hungry look"-shakespeare

2. Lacking in mineral content or combustible material

• "Lean ore"

• "Lean fuel"

3. Containing little excess

• "A lean budget"

• "A skimpy allowance"

4. Not profitable or prosperous

• "A lean year"