wean Meaning & Definition
What Does Wean Mean?
As a verb, wean means To cease giving breast milk to an offspring; to accustom and reconcile (a child or young animal) to a want or deprivation of mother's milk; to take from the breast or udder. It can also mean To habituate (someone) to something, especially since childhood. As a noun, it means A young child.
Wean at a Glance
| Part of speech | verb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈwiːn/ |
| Plural | weans |
| Verb forms | weans, weaning, weaned |
Wean Definition (Verb)
- To cease giving breast milk to an offspring; to accustom and reconcile (a child or young animal) to a want or deprivation of mother's milk; to take from the breast or udder.
The cow has weaned her calf.
- To habituate (someone) to something, especially since childhood.
His generation was weaned on 1980's music.
- To cease to depend on the mother's milk for nutrition.
The kittens are finally weaning.
- To cause to quit something to which one is addicted, dependent, or habituated.
He managed to wean himself off heroin.
- To cease to depend.
She is weaning from her addiction to tobacco.
- To raise, to help grow toward maturity
Wean as a Noun
- A young child.
Synonyms of Wean
The source does not list synonyms for this entry.
Wean synonyms and antonyms →Wean in a Sentence
The cow has weaned her calf.
His generation was weaned on 1980's music.
The kittens are finally weaning.
He managed to wean himself off heroin.
She is weaning from her addiction to tobacco.
Word Forms & Grammar
wean (third-person singular simple present weans, present participle weaning, simple past and past participle weaned)
wean (plural weans)
Words That Rhyme With Wean
Origin of Wean
Origin 1: From Middle English wenen, from Old English wenian (“to accustom; habituate; train; prepare; make fit”), from Proto-West Germanic *wannjan, from Proto-Germanic *wanjaną (“to make wont; accustom”), from Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁- (“to strive for; wish; love”).
Origin 2: Cognate with Dutch wennen, German gewöhnen, Danish vænne, Swedish vänja, Icelandic venja. Related via PIE to wone, wont, and wonder, and perhaps win.
Origin 3: Borrowed from Scots wean (literally “wee one”).
Wean: Your Questions Answered
Is wean a verb or a noun?
Wean is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun.
What is the plural of wean?
The plural of wean is weans.
What is the past tense of wean?
The past tense of wean is weaned. The present participle is weaning.