noun pl. men
- a human being; person; specif.,
- a hominid (Homo sapiens) having an opposable thumb, the ability to make and use specialized tools, articulate speech, and a highly developed brain with the faculty of abstract thought: the only living hominid
- any extinct hominid, as Neanderthal man
- the human race; mankind: used without the or a
- an adult male human being
- sometimes, a boy
- an adult male servant, follower, attendant, or subordinate
- a male employee; workman
- a soldier, sailor, etc.; esp., one of the rank and file
- Archaic a vassal
- a husband
- a lover
- a person with qualities conventionally regarded as manly, such as strength, courage, etc.
- a player on a team
- any of the pieces used in chess, checkers, etc.
- Slang fellow; chap: used in direct address
- Naut. a ship: used in compounds: man-of-war, merchantman
Origin:
ME < OE mann, akin to Ger mann, Goth manna < IE base *manu- (> Sans mánu-, Russ muž): akin ? to *men-, to think > mind
transitive verb manned, manning
- to furnish with a labor force for work, defense, etc.: to man a ship
- to take assigned places in, on, or at for work or defense: man the guns!
- to strengthen; brace; fortify; nerve: to man oneself for an ordeal
- Falconry to tame or accustom (a hawk) to the presence of men