wean

American  

[ween] / win /

verb (used with object)

1. to accustom (a child or young animal) to food other than mother's milk; cause to lose the need to suckle or turn to the mother for food.

2. to withdraw (a person, the affections, one's dependency, etc.) from some object, habit, form of enjoyment, or the like.

   The need to reduce had weaned us from rich desserts.

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verb phrase

1. wean on to accustom to; to familiarize with from, or as if from, childhood.

   a brilliant student weaned on the classics;

   suburban kids weaned on rock music.

wean ¹ British  

/ wiːn /

verb

1. to cause (a child or young mammal) to replace mother's milk by other nourishment

2. (usually foll by from) to cause to desert former habits, pursuits, etc

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wean ² British  

/ weɪn, wiːn /

noun

1. dialect a child; infant

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Other Word Forms

• postweaning adjective
• preweaning adjective
• unweaned adjective
• weanedness noun
• weaning noun

Etymology

Origin of wean

First recorded before 1000; Middle English wenen, Old English wenian; cognate with Dutch wennen, German gewöhnen, Old Norse venja “to accustom”

Example Sentences

A longer-term goal is making Japan’s economy more secure by weaning it off Chinese-centered supply chains for essential materials such as critical minerals, and honing Japan’s technological edge.

From The Wall Street Journal

After they were weaned, the offspring were placed on a standard diet and later switched to a Western-style diet to encourage the development of fatty liver disease.

From Science Daily

Analysts are questioning how quickly India can wean itself off Russian oil imports.

From The Wall Street Journal

But once they weaned him off some of the bad traits he had developed in Mexico and earned his trust, they were able to take his skating to a new level.

From Los Angeles Times

Her goal is to wean herself off her mom’s help eventually, but for now, she doesn’t feel guilty for accepting some assistance.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• discourage