leaning
n. · v.-
1 a preference or tendency (n.) C1 Advanced Formala tendency to prefer one set of ideas or beliefs over another.
a personal inclination, tendency, or propensity toward a specific opinion, belief, or political ideology.
ExampleThe journalist was known for his strong political leanings toward the green party.
ExampleDespite her academic objectivity, her philosophical leanings were evident in the way she framed the ethical dilemmas of the case.
UsageOften used in the plural form 'leanings' when referring to political or social views.
-
2 a physical tilt (n.) C2 Proficiency Literarythe act of sloping or tilting in one direction.
the state or act of inclining from a vertical position.
ExampleThe old tower had a slight leaning toward the river.
ExampleThe structural engineer noted a subtle leaning in the western wall, suggesting that the foundation had shifted over the centuries.
Show 1 more senseShow fewer
-
3 resting against something (v.) B1 Intermediatethe action of resting your body against something for support.
the present participle of 'lean', describing the act of supporting oneself against a surface or inclining the body.
ExampleHe was leaning against the wall while waiting for the bus to arrive.
ExampleLeaning heavily on his cane, the elderly man navigated the uneven cobblestone streets with slow, deliberate steps.
From Middle English lening, leninge, from Old English hlinung (“leaning; resting; place of rest”), equivalent to lean + -ing.
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.