26984 words

leans

13 definitions • 22 examples
1
to (cause to) slope in one direction, or to move the top part of the body in a particular direction:

Examples:

She leaned forward and whispered something in my ear.
I sat down next to Bernard, who leaned over to me and said "You're late."
Lean your head back a little.
That fence is leaning to the right.
2
Lean meat has little fat.
3
thin and healthy:

Examples:

lean and fit
4
If a period of time is lean, there is not enough of something, especially money or food, at that time:

Examples:

It has been a particularly lean year for the education department.
5
A lean company or organization does not use too many people or spend too much money, so that there is no waste:

Examples:

Nowadays even efficient, lean, well-run industries are failing.
6
to move your body away from a vertical position so that it is bent forward or resting against something, or to place something in a sloping position against something:

Examples:

[ I always + adv/prep ] The conductor leaned over us and asked for our tickets.
[ I always + adv/prep ] She paused for a moment to rest and leaned against a large rock.
[ T ] He leaned his bike against the wall.
7
(of a person) thin and in good physical condition:

Examples:

Her body is lean, taut, athletic.
8
When you describe meat as lean, you mean that it does not have much fat in it:

Examples:

9
A lean period is a time during which there is not enough of something, esp. money or food:

Examples:

It is a particularly lean year for science funding.
10
When you say that a company or business is lean, you mean that it has the fewest employees it needs to do its work.
11

Examples:

lean enterprise/operation/organization When it comes to costs, they pride themselves on running a lean operation.
get/become leaner The pack-houses and their workers have had to become leaner.
12
if a period of time is lean, there is not enough money or business at that time:

Examples:

lean period/times/years
Funding has been increased to some programs suffering from several years of lean budgets.
13
if costs, goods for sale, materials, or quantities of workers are lean, they are very low, or kept as low as possible:

Examples:

Cold weather across the U.S. signaled a surge in demand for natural gas products at a time when inventories are uncomfortably lean.
Working quickly and cheaply, with lean staffs and even leaner budgets, contract manufacturers have long played a supporting role in the computer business.

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