Lean (?), n.
1. That part of flesh
which consists principally of muscle without the fat.
The fat was so white and
the lean was so ruddy.
Goldsmith. 2.
(Typog.) Unremunerative copy or work.
Lean (lēn),
a. [Compar.
Leaner (lēn"&etilde;r); superl. Leanest.]
[OE.
lene, AS. hl&aemacr;ne; prob. akin to E. lean
to incline. See Lean, v. i. ] 1.
Wanting flesh; destitute of or deficient in fat; not plump; meager; thin; lank; as, a lean
body; a lean cattle.
2. Wanting fullness, richness, sufficiency, or
productiveness; deficient in
quality or contents; slender; scant; barren; bare; mean; -- used literally and figuratively; as, the lean harvest; a lean purse; a lean discourse; lean wages. "No lean wardrobe." Shak.
Their lean and flashy songs.
Milton. What the land is, whether it be
fat or lean.
Num. xiii. 20.
Out of my lean and low ability
I'll lend you something.
Shak.
3. (Typog.) Of a character which prevents the compositor from earning the usual wages; -- opposed to fat; as, lean copy, matter, or type.
Syn. -- slender; spare; thin; meager; lank; skinny; gaunt.
Lean , v. t. [From Lean, v. i.; AS. hl&aemacr;nan, v. t., fr.
hleonian, hlinian, v. i.]
To cause to lean; to incline; to support or rest. Mrs. Browning.
His fainting limbs against an oak he leant.
Dryden.
Lean (lēn),
v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leaned (lēnd),
sometimes Leant (l&ebreve;nt); p. pr. & vb. n. Leaning.]
[OE. lenen, AS. hlinian, hleonian,
v. i.; akin to OS.
hlinōn, D.
leunen, OHG. hlinēn, linēn, G.
lehnen, L. inclinare, Gr.
kli`nein , L. clivus hill, slope. √40. Cf. Declivity, Climax, Incline,
Ladder.] 1. To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating; as, she leaned out at the window; a leaning column. "He leant forward." Dickens.
2. To incline in
opinion or desire; to conform in conduct; -- with to, toward,
etc.
They delight rather to lean to their old
customs.
Spenser. 3. To rest or rely, for support, comfort, and the like;
-- with on, upon, or against.
He leaned not on his fathers but himself.
Tennyson.
Lean (lēn),
v. t. [Icel.
leyna; akin to G. läugnen to deny, AS.
l&ymacr;gnian, also E. lie to
speak falsely.]
To conceal. [Obs.] Ray.
Hear it pronounced