man
man definition
man (man)
noun pl. men (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
Etymology: 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 man′·ning
- 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
interjection
- used to provide emphasis
- used in a neutral way to preface or resume one's remarks
adjective
male
man Idioms
be one's own man
- to be free and independent
- to be in full control of one's powers, senses, etc.
man and boy
first as a boy and then as a man
the Man
☆- Slang the person having power or authority over one; esp., as orig. used by U.S. blacks, a white man
- a policeman
to a man
with no one as an exception; everyone
Man1 definition
Man (man)
one of the British Isles, between Northern Ireland & England: 221 sq mi (572 sq km); pop. 70,000; cap. Douglas
Man2 definition
Man
- Manila (paper)
- Manitoba
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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