verb
wean
WEEN
Wean (verb) means to gradually stop a baby or young animal from feeding on milk, switching it to other food. Example: “They began to wean the baby onto solid food at six months.”
verb
1
To gradually stop a baby or young animal from feeding on milk, switching it to other food.
"They began to wean the baby onto solid food at six months."
2
To gradually break a habit or dependence.
"The company is trying to wean itself off fossil fuels."
How to use wean
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo stop a baby feeding on milk and move it to solid food, or more generally to gradually break any dependence.
Common pairings
wean off
wean a baby
wean someone from
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Word forms
- Plural
- weans
- Third person singular
- weans
- Past tense
- weaned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They began to _____ the baby onto solid food at six months.
Etymology
From Old English wenian ("to accustom, train"), related to the word "wont."
Synonyms
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ablactate
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for wean
See all rhymes for wean →Frequently asked questions
What does “wean” mean?
The word “wean” means to gradually stop a baby or young animal from feeding on milk, switching it to other food. In plain terms, to stop a baby feeding on milk and move it to solid food, or more generally to gradually break any dependence.
How do you pronounce “wean”?
“Wean” is pronounced WEEN (/ˈwiːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “wean” in a sentence?
Here is “wean” used in a sentence: “They began to wean the baby onto solid food at six months.”
What part of speech is “wean”?
“Wean” is a verb.
Where does the word “wean” come from?
The word “wean” comes from Old English. From Old English wenian ("to accustom, train"), related to the word "wont.".
How many meanings does “wean” have?
“Wean” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to gradually stop a baby or young animal from feeding on milk, switching it to other food.
