lean

/ˈlēn/

Middle English lenen, from Old English hleonian; akin to Old High German hlinēn to lean, Greek klinein, Latin clinare

verb

  1. to incline, deviate, or bend from a vertical position

  2. to cast one's weight to one side for support

  3. to rely for support or inspiration

He leaned back in his chair.

Lean on me as we walk.

noun

  1. the act or an instance of leaning : inclination

adjective

  1. lacking or deficient in flesh

  2. containing little or no fat

  3. lacking richness, sufficiency, or productiveness

lean meat

lean spare lank lanky gaunt rawboned scrawny skinny mean thin because of an absence of excess flesh. lean stresses lack of fat and of curving contours. spare suggests leanness from abstemious living or constant exercise.