intransitive verb leaned or Chiefly Brit.leant, leaning
- to bend or deviate from an upright position; stand at a slant; incline
- to bend or incline the body so as to rest part of one's weight upon or against something: he leaned on the desk
- to depend for encouragement, aid, etc.; rely (on or upon)
- to have a particular mental inclination; tend (toward or to a certain opinion, attitude, etc.)
Origin:
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
to cause to lean: to lean one's head back, lean the ladder against the house
noun
the act or condition of leaning; inclination; slant