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man definition

man (man)

noun pl. men (men)

  1. a human being; person; specif.,
    1. 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
    2. any extinct hominid, as Neanderthal man
  2. the human race; mankind: used without the or a
    1. an adult male human being
    2. sometimes, a boy
    1. an adult male servant, follower, attendant, or subordinate
    2. a male employee; workman
    3. a soldier, sailor, etc.; esp., one of the rank and file
    4. Archaic a vassal
    1. a husband
    2. a lover
  3. a person with qualities conventionally regarded as manly, such as strength, courage, etc.
  4. a player on a team
  5. any of the pieces used in chess, checkers, etc.
  6. Slang fellow; chap: used in direct address
  7. 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

  1. to furnish with a labor force for work, defense, etc. to man a ship
  2. to take assigned places in, on, or at for work or defense man the guns!
  3. to strengthen; brace; fortify; nerve to man oneself for an ordeal
  4. Falconry to tame or accustom (a hawk) to the presence of men

interjection

  1. used to provide emphasis
  2. used in a neutral way to preface or resume one's remarks

adjective

male
man Idioms

as a man

or as one man
in unison; unanimously

be one's own man

  1. to be free and independent
  2. 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

  1. Slang the person having power or authority over one; esp., as orig. used by U.S. blacks, a white man
  2. 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

  1. Manila (paper)
  2. 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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