lean

B1 · Intermediate

v. to rest your weight against something for support.

v. to rest or rely on something for physical support or to press against a surface.

“You can lean your bicycle against the wall while we go inside.”

“Exhausted after the climb, the hikers leaned against the damp cave wall to catch their breath before the descent.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to be more likely to choose or support one idea over another.

v. to incline in opinion, taste, or desire; often used with the prepositions 'to' or 'towards'.

“I am leaning towards the blue car, but the red one is cheaper.”

“While the committee remains undecided, several members appear to be leaning towards the more conservative investment strategy.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Biology

adj. thin in a healthy way, with strong muscles and little fat.

adj. thin and fit; containing little or no fat.

“The athlete had a lean, muscular body from years of training.”

“The trainer recommended a diet of lean proteins and complex carbohydrates to help the boxer reach his target weight class.”

C1 · Advanced Business Academic · Formal

adj. using only what is necessary without wasting money or time; also used for times when there is not much of something.

adj. efficient and economic; also used to describe periods of scarcity or meagre resources.

“The company became more profitable after adopting lean manufacturing methods.”

“During the lean years of the recession, the family learned to survive on a very strict budget with no room for luxuries.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal

n. a position where something is not straight.

n. an inclination or slope away from the vertical.

“The fence has a slight lean after the heavy storm last night.”

“The architect noted a distinct lean in the supporting pillars, suggesting that the foundation had settled unevenly over the decades.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Slang · American English

n. a dangerous drink made from strong cough medicine and soda.

n. a recreational drug mixture typically involving codeine-based cough syrup and soda.

“The song mentions drinking lean, which is a very harmful habit.”

“Public health officials have raised concerns about the glamorisation of lean in certain subcultures due to its highly addictive nature.”