当我在阅读词典的时候，发现这样的一个句子，lean的含义让我惊诧不已：
The company recovered well after going through several lean years.
经历了几年的萧条后，这家公司的业务才完全恢复了正常。《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》
这个词在这里含义是经济萧条的，不景气的，难以赚钱的。是不是太意外了？
lean
v.靠在；倾斜；倚靠；使斜靠；靠置；前俯(或后仰)
adj.精干的；贫乏的；无脂肪的；脂肪少的；瘦且健康的；肉少的；生产不出(食物等)的；难以赚钱的
n.瘦肉
1.动词用法
The tower is leaning dangerously.
那座塔越来越斜，很危险。
Can I lean my bike against the wall?
我能把自行车靠在这墙上吗？
lean to/towards/toward sth
倾向，偏向（尤指某意见或利益）；倾身向前
The UK leant towards the US proposal.
英国倾向于美国的提案。
She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.
她倾身向前，吻了他的面颊。
She leaned forward, hunching over the desk.
她身体前倾，伏在写字台上。
特别注意：
lean on sb/sth
（1）靠着某人(某物)
She walked slowly, leaning on her son's arm.
她倚靠着她儿子的手臂缓慢行走。
Leaning on Jon, Michael took faltering steps to the bathroom.
迈克尔倚着乔恩，踉踉跄跄地走到浴室。
She leaned on the ship's rail and gazed out to sea.
她靠着船上的护栏，凝望大海。
He was staggering and had to lean on the bar.
他走路摇摇晃晃，不得不靠在吧台上。
The shop assistant received me indifferently while leaning on a counter.
商店售货员靠在柜台上漫不经心地招呼我。
He had to lean on Dan to keep from falling.
他不得不靠在丹身上以免摔倒。
We leaned on the wooden rail of the bridge and looked up the river
我们靠在桥的木栏杆上，朝河望去。
The table wobbled when I leaned on it
我往桌上一靠，桌子就摇晃了起来。
The old lady leant on her stick as she talked.
老太太说话时拄着拐棍。
She leaned on her lover's arm.
她侧身倚在情人的手臂上。
有时on可以换为against
She was feeling tired and was glad to lean against him.
她正感到有些疲倦，因此很高兴可以靠在他身上。
She leaned against the wall.
她倚靠着墙。
She was leaning negligently against the wall.
她很随便地斜倚着墙。
A shovel was leaning against the wall.
一把铁铲靠墙放着。
He leant against the car, gulping in the cold air.
他倚着汽车大口大口地呼吸冷空气。
（2.）依靠，依赖（…的帮助和支持）
rely on
He leans heavily on his family.
他在很大程度上依赖他的家庭。
She leaned on him to help her to solve her problems.
她靠他帮忙解决自身问题。
They have learned to lean on each other for support.
他们已经懂得彼此依靠，互相支持。
（3.）对…施加压力；威胁；恐吓；恫吓
The government has been leaning on the TV company not to broadcast the show.
政府一直给电视公司施加压力，不准播放此节目。
Colin was being leaned on by his bankers.
科林正承受来自银行的压力。
He told us to get stuffed so we leaned on his kid.
他叫我们滚蛋，于是我们威胁他的孩子。
2.形容词用法
作形容词，却无“斜的，倾斜的”意思，要用slanting：
The floodlights were hazy behind the slanting rain.
泛光灯在斜斜的雨丝中显得很蒙眬。
lean adj.
精干的；贫乏的；无脂肪的；脂肪少的；瘦且健康的；肉少的；生产不出(食物等)的；难以赚钱的
The changes made the company leaner and more competitive.
改革使公司更精干，更有竞争力。（机构等精干的；效率高的）
The value of the pound will force British companies to be leaner and fitter.
英镑目前的汇率将迫使英国公司厉行精兵简政。
The government aims to make British industry leaner and fitter.
政府旨在使英国的工业更加简而精。
He was tall, lean and handsome.
他长得瘦高而英俊。（人，尤指男人或动物肉少的；瘦且健康的）
He was tall, lean and muscular.
他高挑瘦削，强壮有力。
在说女人苗条好看时最好用：slender/ slim/trim苗条的，纤细的; 体态优美
All girls want to be slender.
女孩都希望身材苗条。
She was slender, with delicate wrists and ankles.
她身量苗条，手腕和脚踝曲线玲珑。
Blonde and slender, she was too striking to escape their attention.
金发细腰的她太引人注目了，他们很难不注意到她。
A slender form of a woman appeared at the top of the stairs.
一个身材苗条的女人出现在楼梯顶上。
Her legs were long and fine, her hips slender, her carriage erect.
她长腿细臀，身姿笔直。
It is a beautiful meat, very lean and tender.
这块肉很好，又瘦又嫩。（（肉）瘦的，脂肪少的）
The company recovered well after going through several lean years.
经历了几年的萧条后，这家公司的业务才完全恢复了正常。
3.名词，瘦肉
There is little wastage from a lean cut of meat.
瘦肉基本上不会浪费。