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¹man

noun \ˈman, in compounds ˌman or mən\

: an adult male human being

: a man or boy who shows the qualities (such as strength and courage) that men are traditionally supposed to have

: a woman's husband or boyfriend

plural men \ˈmen, in compounds ˌmen or mən\

Full Definition of MAN

a (1) : an individual human; especially : an adult male human (2) : a man belonging to a particular category (as by birth, residence, membership, or occupation) —usually used in combination <councilman> (3) : husband (4) : lover

b : the human race : humankind

c : a bipedal primate mammal (Homo sapiens) that is anatomically related to the great apes but distinguished especially by notable development of the brain with a resultant capacity for articulate speech and abstract reasoning, is usually considered to form a variable number of freely interbreeding races, and is the sole living representative of the hominid family; broadly : any living or extinct hominid

d (1) : one possessing in high degree the qualities considered distinctive of manhood (2) obsolete : the quality or state of being manly : manliness

e : fellow, chap —used as mode of familiar address

f —used interjectionally to express intensity of feeling <man, what a game>

a : individual, person <a man could get killed there>

b : the individual who can fulfill or who has been chosen to fulfill one's requirements <she's your man>

a : a feudal tenant : vassal

b : an adult male servant

c plural : the working force as distinguished from the employer and usually the management

a : one of the distinctive objects moved by each player in various board games

b : one of the players on a team

: an alumnus of or student at a college or university <a Bowdoin man>

Christian Science : the compound idea of infinite Spirit : the spiritual image and likeness of God : the full representation of Mind

often capitalized : police <when I heard the siren, I knew it was the Man — American Speech>

often capitalized : the white establishment : white society <surprise that any black … should take on so about The Man — Peter Goldman>

: one extremely fond of or devoted to something specified <strictly a vanilla ice cream man>

— man·less \ˈman-ləs\ adjective

— man·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

— as one man

: with the agreement and consent of all : unanimously

— one's own man

: free from interference or control

— to a man

: without exception

See man defined for English-language learners

See man defined for kids

Origin of MAN

Middle English, from Old English man, mon human being, male human; akin to Old High German man human being, Sanskrit manu

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to MAN

Synonyms: bastard, bloke [chiefly British], buck, cat, chap [chiefly British], chappie [British], dude, fella, fellow, galoot [slang], gent, gentleman, guy, hombre, jack, joe, joker, lad, male

Other Anthropology Terms

ectomorph, ethnography, prehistory, yurt

Rhymes with MAN

an, ban, bran, can, clan, Dan, fan, flan, Jan, Klan, pan, Pan, panne, plan, scan, Shan, span, tan, van, Van

²man

verb

: to be the person who controls or is in charge of (something)

: to place people at or on (something) to do work

mannedman·ning

Full Definition of MAN

transitive verb

a : to supply with people (as for service) <man a fleet>

b : to station members of a ship's crew at <man the capstan>

c : to serve in the force or complement of <man the ticket booth>

: to accustom (as a hawk) to humans and the human environment

: to furnish with strength or powers of resistance : brace

See man defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of MAN

12th century

³man

abbreviation

Definition of MAN

manual

Man

abbreviation

Definition of MAN

Manitoba

MAN Defined for Kids

¹man

noun \ˈman\

plural men \ˈmen\

Definition of MAN for Kids

: an adult male human being

: a human being : person

: the human race : mankind

: ¹husband <I now pronounce you man and wife.>

: an adult male servant or employee

: one of the pieces with which various games (as chess and checkers) are played

: a member of the group to which human beings belong including both modern humans and extinct related forms

²man

verb

mannedman·ning

Definition of MAN for Kids

: to work at or do the work of operating <We rode while students manned the oars.>

Medical Dictionary

man

noun \ˈman\

plural men \ˈmen\

Medical Definition of MAN

: a bipedal primate mammal of the genus Homo (H. sapiens) that is anatomically related to the great apes (family Pongidae) but is distinguished by greater development of the brain with resulting capacity for articulate speech and abstract reasoning, by marked erectness of body carriage with corresponding alteration of muscular balance and loss of prehensile powers of the foot, and by shortening of the arm with accompanying increase in thumb size and ability to place the thumb next to each of the fingers, that is usually considered to occur in a variable number of freely interbreeding races, and that is the sole living representative of the family Hominidae; broadly : any living or extinct member of the family Hominidae