verb / noun

lean

LEEN/liːn/

To incline from upright toward a point of support.

The woman leans sideways with her shoulder supported by the wall.

A young adult Latina woman rests at a slight sideways angle with her shoulder against a plain wall, making the wall's supporting role unmistakable.

Etymology

leanOld Englishto recline, rest, incline

Old English hlinian combined resting with bending or inclining. Leaning against something brings those ideas together: the body tilts while relying on an object for support.

In context

khanacademymedicine1:15

Let's say I do decide to sit under that tree on my long walk today. I step off the path and sit down and lean back against the trunk.

Symbolic interactionism | Society and Culture | MCAT | Khan Academy

More examples

I lean my bike against the garage wall.
The fence has a slight lean toward the road.
He leaned on his cane as he crossed the room.

Forms

lean · leans · leaned · leaning

Similar words

tilt: Tilt describes an angle without necessarily involving a supporting surface.
slant: Slant emphasizes a slope rather than resting against a support.