Definition of lean - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
supportintr. rest against something for supportintr.
- He leaned on the wall while waiting.
2.
movementtr./intr. bend or incline from a vertical positiontr./intr.
- The tree began to lean dangerously in the wind..
3.
preferenceintr. have a tendency or preferenceintr.
- He leans towards choosing more conservative options..
Adjective
1.
personslim and strong, not fat
- He has a lean and athletic build.
2.
meathaving little fat
- This cut of beef is very lean.
3.
organizationefficient and without waste
- The company became lean after restructuring.
4.
resourceslacking in abundance or richness
- They struggled during the lean years.
Noun
1.
foodmeat with no fat on it
- The chef prefers to cook with lean.
2.
geometryRare inclination away from the verticalRare
- The tower has a noticeable lean.
3.
- He was caught with lean at the party.
Images of lean
meat with no fat on it 
inclination away from the vertical
Expressions with lean
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extend part of the body outside something
She leaned out of the window to see the parade.
move body forward or towards something
She had to lean in to hear him.
rest on something for physical support
He leaned on the wall to catch his breath.
times when resources are limited
Farmers often face lean times during droughts.
depend a lot on someone or something for help or support
She leans heavily on her friends during tough times.
rely on me for support
You can lean on me during tough times.
make extra effort to help or satisfy someone
She will lean over backwards to make her guests feel comfortable.
bend or incline the body in a particular direction
He had to lean towards the window to hear the conversation outside..
limited opportunities or resources
Job seekers found lean pickings in the small town.
person or thing that is tough and aggressive
The boxer is a lean, mean machine in the ring.
fit and strong with little body fat
The athlete trained hard to stay lean and mean.
make an effort with determination and perseverance
He leaned into his studies to improve his grades.
periods of time with little success or growth
The company struggled during the lean years.
appearance of being eager and ambitious
He had a lean and hungry look, ready to conquer the world.
rely on someone for help or comfort
She had to lean upon her friends during tough times.
move your upper body towards something
He leaned over to whisper in her ear.
rest on something for support
She leaned against the wall to catch her breath.
move the upper body backwards and down
She decided to lean back in her chair.
move your body towards the front
She had to lean forward to hear him better.
meat cut containing very little fat compared with other similar cuts
She chose lean meat for the stew to keep it healthy.
incline the body in a particular direction
She leaned toward the window to see outside.
time with reduced resources or opportunities
The company faced a lean period with low sales.
business approach focusing on efficient resource use and quick validation
The lean startup approach helped the company succeed quickly.
mindset focused on continuous improvement
Adopting lean thinking can lead to significant improvements in productivity.
Origin of lean
Old English, hleonian (to lean)
Terms with lean included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
mobility
stick to lean on for walking help
movement
cause something to tilt or lean
food
lean meat dried and preserved in strips
food
lean flesh of a saltwater fish
leaning
lean or incline to one side
physique
muscular and lean with an athletic body
body movement
lean forward so upper body is close to legs
physical action
to physically lean forward or arch the back
motion
the act of causing something to lean or incline
food
streaks of fat in lean meat
food
containing streaks of fat within lean meat
furniture
part of a chair you lean against
physical appearance
thin and lean in appearance
movement
lean or settle from a vertical position
sailing motion
tilt or lean to one side
physical appearance
lean and bony in appearance
contact
touch or lean on something
bodybuilding
person who has trouble increasing body mass, especially lean tissue
posture
lean forward in anticipation or readiness
sudden tilt
lean or pitch suddenly to one side
meat
lean cut of pork from the loin
food
lean pork dish made from the long, tender back muscle
adjustable backrest
having a backrest that can be adjusted to lean back
adjustable chair
able to lean backward for comfort or rest
Examples of lean in a sentence
The tired man leaned on his cane. She had to lean over to pick up the book. He would lean against the wall when he was tired. She leans towards modern art in her collections. They lean towards a more minimalist lifestyle. The runner's lean physique helped him win the race.
She admired his lean figure in the photograph. She prefers lean meat for her diet. Lean cuts are often more expensive at the butcher. The startup maintained a lean structure to maximize profits. Their lean operations helped them survive the economic downturn. The company had to make cuts during the lean quarter. Farmers faced lean harvests due to the drought. For health reasons, she only eats lean. The butcher recommended lean for the stew. The building's lean was measured by engineers. A slight lean in the structure was observed. Lean has become popular in certain music scenes. Authorities are cracking down on the distribution of lean.
View all translations of lean
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:s'appuyer, svelte, ...
- German:lehnen, schlank, ...
- Italian:appoggiarsi, asciutto, ...
- Spanish:apoyarse, delgado, ...
- Portuguese:encostar-se, esguio, ...
- Chinese:靠, 苗条的, ...
- Japanese:寄りかかる, スリムな, ...
- Arabic:اِسْتَنَدَ, نَحِيف, ...
- Hebrew:לְהִישָּׁעֵן, חָטוּב, ...
- Russian:опираться, стройный, ...
- Ukrainian:спиратися, стрункий, ...
- Hindi:टिकना, छरहरा, ...
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