Man (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

noun, plural men [men]. /mɛn/.
  1. an adult male person.
  2. a member of the species Homo sapiens or all the members of this species collectively, without regard to gender: The gravesite gives us valuable information about the burial practices of prehistoric man.
  3. the human individual as representing the species, without reference to gender; the human race; humankind: Man hopes for peace, but prepares for war.
  4. a human being; person: to give a man a chance; When the audience smelled the smoke, it was every man for himself.
  5. a husband: I now pronounce you man and wife.
  6. a male lover or sweetheart.
  7. a male follower or subordinate: the king's men; He's the boss's number one man.
  8. a male employee or representative, especially of a company or agency: a Secret Service man; a man from the utility company.
  9. a male having qualities considered typical of men or appropriately masculine: Be a man. The army will make a man of you.
  10. a male servant.
  11. a valet: He asked his man to prepare a valise for the weekend.
  12. enlisted man.
  13. an enthusiast or devotee: I like jazz, but I'm essentially a classics man.
  14. a male friend or ally: You're my main man.
  15. a term of familiar address to a man; fellow: Now, now, my good man, please calm down.
  16. a term of familiar address to a man or a woman: Hey, man, how's it going?
  17. one of the figures, disks, etc., used in playing certain games, as chess or checkers: You can move your men each turn diagonally forward, to the left or to the right.
  18. the man or the Man ,Slang.
    • a person or group asserting authority or power over another, especially in a manner experienced as being oppressive, demeaning, or threatening, as the government, an employer, or the police.
    • a privileged racial group, especially when exerting a dominating social, cultural, or economic influence.
    • a person of impressive accomplishment; one who excels.
    • a drug dealer.
  19. manly character or courage.
  20. a liegeman; vassal.
verb (used with object), manned, man·ning.
  1. to furnish with people, as for service or defense: No matter how complicated war might be, it always comes down to the ones who fly the planes, man the ships, and carry the rifles.
  2. to take one's place at, as for service: to man the ramparts;to man the phones.
  3. to strengthen, fortify, or brace; steel: They took a moment to man themselves for the dangers ahead.
  4. to accustom (a hawk) to the presence of people.
interjection
  1. an expression of surprise, enthusiasm, dismay, or other strong feeling: Man, what a ball game!
Verb Phrases
  1. to act in a typically masculine way, as in taking responsibility or making tough decisions: He should man up and meet the challenge.
Idioms
  1. in complete agreement or accord; unanimously: They arose as one man to protest the verdict.
  2. be one's own man,
    • to be free from restrictions, control, or dictatorial influence; be independent: Now that he has a business he is his own man.
    • to be in complete command of one's faculties: After a refreshing nap he was again his own man.
  3. ever since childhood: He's been working that farm, man and boy, for more than 50 years.
  4. a man who exemplifies masculine qualities.
  5. with no exception; everyone; all: To a man, the members of the team did their best.
noun
  1. an island of the British Isles, in the Irish Sea. 227 sq. mi. (588 sq. km). Capital: Douglas.
  1. a combining form of man: layman; postman.
abbreviation
  1. manual.
abbreviation
  1. Manila.
  2. Manitoba.
noun plural men (mɛn)
  1. an adult male human being, as distinguished from a woman
  2. male; masculine
  3. a human being regardless of sex or age, considered as a representative of mankind; a person
  4. human beings collectively; mankind
  5. Also called: modern man
    • a member of any of the living races of Homo sapiens, characterized by erect bipedal posture, a highly developed brain, and powers of articulate speech, abstract reasoning, and imagination
    • any extinct member of the species Homo sapiens, such as Cro-Magnon man
  6. a member of any of the extinct species of the genus Homo, such as Java man, Heidelberg man, and Solo man
  7. an adult male human being with qualities associated with the male, such as courage or virility
  8. manly qualities or virtues
    • a subordinate, servant, or employee contrasted with an employer or manager
    • (in combination)
  9. a member of the armed forces who does not hold commissioned, warrant, or noncommissioned rank (as in the phrase officers and men)
  10. a member of a group, team, etc
  11. a husband, boyfriend, etc
  12. an expression used parenthetically to indicate an informal relationship between speaker and hearer
  13. a movable piece in various games, such as draughts
  14. any person: used as a term of address
  15. a vassal of a feudal lord
  16. with unanimous action or response
  17. to be independent or free
  18. he's the person needed (for a particular task, role, job, etc)
  19. from childhood
  20. to separate the experienced from the inexperienced
  21. to a man
    • unanimously
    • without exception
interjection
  1. an exclamation or expletive, often indicating surprise or pleasure
verb mans, manning or manned (tr)
  1. to provide with sufficient people for operation, defence, etc
  2. to take one's place at or near in readiness for action
  3. to induce (a hawk or falcon) to endure the presence of and handling by man, esp strangers
noun the Man (sometimes not capital) US
  1. a White man or White men collectively, esp when in authority, in the police, or held in contempt
  2. a drug peddler
noun
  1. an island in the British Isles, in the Irish Sea between Cumbria and Northern Ireland: a UK Crown Dependency (but not part of the United Kingdom), with its own ancient parliament, the Court of Tynwald; a dependency of Norway until 1266, when for a time it came under Scottish rule; its own language, Manx, became extinct in the 19th century but has been revived to some extent. Capital: Douglas. Pop: 86 159 (2013 est). Area: 588 sq km (227 sq miles)
n combining form
  1. indicating a person who has a role, works in a place, or operates equipment as specified
Man (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

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