intransitive verb leaned or Chiefly Brit.leant, leaning lean′·ing

1. to bend or deviate from an upright position; stand at a slant; incline
2. to bend or incline the body so as to rest part of one's weight upon or against something he leaned on the desk
3. to depend for encouragement, aid, etc.; rely (on or upon)
4. to have a particular mental inclination; tend (toward or to a certain opinion, attitude, etc.)

Etymology: ME lenen < OE hlinian, to lean, hlænan, to cause to lean, akin to Ger lehnen < IE base *lei-, to incline, lean > Gr klinein, L clinare

transitive verb

noun

adjective

1. with little flesh or fat; thin; spare
2. containing little or no fat: said of meat
3. 1. lacking in richness, profit, productivity, etc.; meager
   2. deficient in some quality or substance a lean mixture in the carburetor
   3. characterized by brevity, incisiveness, directness, etc. a lean writing style
   4. characterized by economy, efficiency, automation rather than human labor, etc. a leaner, more competitive company

Etymology: ME lene < OE hlæne, prob. akin to lean, in sense “leaning, drooping,” hence “thin, slender”

noun