wean¹ Definition
wean (wēn)
transitive verb
- to cause (a child or young animal) to become accustomed gradually to food other than its mother's milk; to cause to give up suckling; now, often, to cause to give up drinking milk from a bottle with a nipple
- to withdraw (a person) by degrees (from a habit, object of affection, occupation, etc.), as by substituting some other interest
- to be raised on or brought up with; to become accustomed to: with on weaned on good books
Etymology: ME wenen < OE wenian, to accustom, train, with sense of awenian, to wean < a- (< af-, away) + wenian < IE base *wen-, to desire, attain, be satisfied > L venus, love
wean¹ Related Forms
wean² Definition
wean (wēn)
noun
Scot., North Eng. a child or baby
Etymology: contr. of Scot wee ane, little one
wean Synonyms
wean Usage Examples
Object
- piglet: Abstract When weaned early, piglets commonly take some time to accept solid food, resulting in a growth check and reduced welfare.
- pup: Weaned gray seal pups were tracked using coded data transmitters in December 1997.
- calf: List the possible problems which may arise in weaning calves.
- puppy: This scenario may have a significant effect on the recently weaned young puppy that is placed in a new environment.
- pig: In weaned pigs, respiratory disease is the predominant problem.
- lamb: An example is when lambs not yet weaned are sent for slaughter.
Preposition: on
diet: Your cubs must be bottle fed around the clock for two weeks, then weaned on a diet of high quality meat.
Preposition: at
month: Site B will be for the young boar ( from weaning at 4-6 months to slaughter at 12-15 months ).
Preposition: onto
food: As they are weaned onto food suitable to small salmon, the fry become free swimming rather than bottom feeders.
Modifying Another Word
- gradually: Research has shown that gradually weaned foals exhibit less stress than abruptly weaned foals.
- slowly: Josie is weaning slowly, down to a feed every few days now.
- newly: There's something for every child, from newly weaned to really quite grown up.
- fully: A kitten can be fully weaned at about 8 weeks old.
- away: We have been weaned away from our natural leaders.
- completely: Now completely weaned off their mother's milk, it will be the food she supplies that the cubs are reliant upon.
Followed by an intransitive particle
off: Slowly, like a heroin addict weaned off by methadone, I had the inside of my head adjusted.
Followed by a transitive particle
off: She said this would stop me from having to be weaned off the steroids.
Used with why or when
when: The young leave the nest after weaning when they are at their most vulnerable to predators such as birds of prey and desert foxes.
Preposition: from
- ventilation: Nevertheless with skilled supervision of weaning from ventilation these problems should be overcome.
- milk: Was this, by any chance, about the same time he was weaned from breast milk to cow's milk-based formula?
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