Meaning
verb
be in or move into a sloping position.
“he leaned back in his chair”
noun
a deviation from the perpendicular; an inclination.
“the vehicle has a definite lean to the left”
Lean Management
using fewer employees or less money in order to decrease waste, while continuing to operate effectively:
Companies are downsizing, aiming to be leaner and more efficient, with demands on employees for greater productivity.
With the application of lean management principles, suppliers and distributors have streamlined their processes.
lean enterprise/operation/organization When it comes to costs, they pride themselves on running a lean operation.
get/become leaner The pack-houses and their workers have had to become leaner.
lean retailers/suppliers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean