Pronunciation

/liːn/

Definitions

• Verb (v): To incline or bend forward and rest on something for support or balance. For example: “He was leaning against the wall.”

  • Intransitive: To have a tendency or inclination towards something. For example: “The tower leans slightly to the west.”
  • Transitive: To cause something to tilt or slope. For example: “She leaned the ladder against the house.”

• Adjective (adj): Describing someone or something that is thin, fit, or not carrying excess fat. For example: “She had a lean figure after months of exercise.”

  • Also used to describe a lack of excess or abundance; economical or efficient. For example: “The company needed to adopt lean manufacturing practices to cut costs.”

Phrases

• “Lean on” someone/something: To rely or depend on someone or something for support, physically or emotionally. Example: “During tough times, she could always lean on her best friend.”
• “Learn from one’s mistakes”: This phrase uses “lean” metaphorically to mean gaining knowledge or wisdom through experience. Example: “After the failure, he learned to lean from his mistakes and make better decisions.”
• “Lean muscle”: Refers to toned, well-defined muscles without excessive body fat. Example: “He worked out daily to build lean muscle mass.”

Example Sentences

• Verb: “He decided to lean back in his chair and relax.”
• “Over time, the tree began to lean precariously over the street.”
• Adjective: “Her diet consisted mainly of vegetables and protein to maintain a lean physique.”
• “Their new business model adopted lean principles to streamline operations.”

Synonyms

• As a verb:

  • Incline
  • Tilt
  • Rest
  • Depend (in the context of ’leaning on')

• As an adjective:

  • Slender
  • Thin
  • Trim
  • Fit
  • Streamlined (in the context of ‘lean processes’)
  • Economical
  • Efficient