lean
lean — verb
1. to shift your body weight so that your head and shoulders move sideways from a s
to shift your body weight so that your head and shoulders move sideways from a straight upright position, or to place an object against a surface so that the object tilts instead of standing straight
The old tower leans slightly to one side, so visitors are not allowed inside.
structural use: describing a fixed angle of a building
Paloma leaned forward to whisper something in her sister's ear.
lean + forward + to + verb
Tariq leaned his bicycle against the garden wall and ran inside.
Élise leaned out of the window to call down to the children playing below.
If you lean on that door handle too hard, it might break off.
- straighten
to return to an upright position
文法句型
lean + forward/back/over/towards
lean + against/on [sth]
lean + object + against/on [sth]
用法筆記
Can be used both without an object (intransitive: 'lean forward') and with an object placed against a surface (transitive: 'lean the ladder against the wall'). The transitive pattern always requires a prepositional phrase — 'against', 'on', or 'upon' — after the object.
常見錯誤
lean — adjective
1. containing very little fat, used especially to describe meat that is considered
containing very little fat, used especially to describe meat that is considered healthier to eat
The recipe calls for lean minced beef rather than the regular kind.
collocation: lean + minced beef / meat
Doctors recommend choosing lean cuts of pork and removing the skin from chicken breasts.
collocation: lean cuts of [meat]
Ayesha grilled some lean turkey breast for her lunch today.
I try to buy lean bacon because it has fewer calories than the regular kind.
This local restaurant serves lean, grass-fed steaks that are very popular with runners.
- fatty
containing a lot of fat
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively for meat and meat products. For other foods like dairy or oils, use 'low-fat' or 'reduced-fat' instead.
常見錯誤
2. having a thin and healthy body with very little fat, often suggesting fitness an
having a thin and healthy body with very little fat, often suggesting fitness and strength rather than being simply thin
Kenji has a lean, athletic build from years of competitive swimming.
collocation: lean + build / physique
The fashion model was naturally lean, not starved or unhealthy in any way.
After six months of training her body became noticeably lean and strong.
The soldiers looked lean and fit after three weeks of marching through the hills.
- overweight
having too much body weight
- plump
slightly fat in a soft way
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (NO FAT): this sense describes a person's body shape, not food. 'Lean' for people carries a positive connotation of health and fitness, unlike 'skinny' which may suggest being too thin.
常見錯誤
3. used about a stretch of months or years when money, food, or business activity i
used about a stretch of months or years when money, food, or business activity is in short supply, making life or work harder than usual
The Nguyen family went through a lean period after their father lost his factory job.
collocation: lean period
Most experienced farmers know that lean years can follow a good harvest.
collocation: lean years
During the lean winter months the village relied entirely on stored grain and dried meat.
Ravindra's first year as a painter was lean, with very few buyers for his work.
- abundant
plentiful; having more than enough
- prosperous
financially successful and thriving
用法筆記
Almost always placed before a time noun (lean years, lean months, lean period). Describes a stretch of time, not a single event — you would not say 'a lean meal' to mean a small meal.
常見錯誤
4. using only the necessary number of people, amount of money, or resources so that
using only the necessary number of people, amount of money, or resources so that nothing is wasted, especially when describing a company or system
The company became leaner after cutting unnecessary jobs and improving its internal systems.
corporate use: describing organizational change
A lean organization wastes no money on unnecessary staff, materials, or office space.
collocation: lean organization
In recent years most large firms have tried to create a lean management structure.
Folake's team operates on lean principles, using only the resources they truly need.
- streamlined
focuses on removing unnecessary steps rather than reducing costs
- economical
broader; can describe any money-saving measure, not just organizational structure
- efficient
wider in meaning; not limited to size or staffing
用法筆記
Common in business writing and management discussions, especially 'lean manufacturing' (a production method that reduces waste). The comparative form 'leaner' is frequently used to describe ongoing improvement.
lean — noun
1. the position or angle of something that is not standing straight up, or the move
the position or angle of something that is not standing straight up, or the movement of the body into such a position
The slight lean of the wall made the whole building look dangerously unsafe.
collocation: slight/noticeable + lean of [structure]
Nellie corrected her posture by reducing the forward lean of her head and neck.
collocation: forward/backward + lean of [body part]
The famous tower has a noticeable lean that can be seen from several streets away.
A small lean to one side is perfectly normal in this old wooden garden fence.
用法筆記
Often used with an adjective describing the degree or direction of the slope: 'a slight lean', 'a forward lean', 'a pronounced lean'. It is less common than the verb form but appears regularly in descriptions of buildings, posture, and objects.