man

¹man

noun \ˈman, in compounds ˌman or mən\

plural men\ˈmen, in compounds ˌmen or mən\

Definition of MAN

1

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>

2

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>

3

a : a feudal tenant : vassal b : an adult male servant c plural : the working force as distinguished from the employer and usually the management

4

a : one of the distinctive objects moved by each player in various board games b : one of the players on a team

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

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

9

: 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 : independent

— to a man

: without exception

Examples of MAN

1. He was a shy boy, but he grew to be a strong and confident man.
2. He's a grown man now.
3. The movie is popular with men and women.
4. Don't cry, little boy: be a man!
5. Are you man enough to meet the challenge?

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

Related Words: master, mister, sir; buddy, buster

Near Antonyms: animal, beast, beastie, brute, critter

see all synonyms and antonyms

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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