An Encylopedia Britannica Company

man

1 man /ˈmæn/ noun
plural men /ˈmɛn/
1 man
/ˈmæn/
noun
plural men /ˈmɛn/
Britannica Dictionary definition of MAN
[count] : an adult male human being
: a man or boy who shows the qualities (such as strength and courage) that men are traditionally supposed to have
[count]
[noncount]
: a woman's husband or boyfriend
[count]
[noncount]
see also old man
[count] : an individual human being : person
[noncount] : the human race
◊ Senses 4a and 4b are now sometimes avoided because they are considered sexist.
[count] used when you are talking to a man
[count] : a male worker who goes to people's homes
men [plural] : a group of male workers, soldiers, etc.
[count]
: a man who does a particular kind of work
: a man who has a specified job or position or who belongs to a specified category of worker used in combination
: a man who works for or represents a particular person or organization
[count] old-fashioned : a male servant usually singular
10 
[count]
somewhat old-fashioned : a male student or former student at a college or university
: a man who comes from or lives in a specified town, city, etc. used chiefly by journalists
11 
[count] : a man who likes something very much or who is known for some activity or interest
12 
[singular]
: a person who can do what is needed
: the person someone (such as a police officer) is looking for
13 
[count] : one of the pieces in a game like chess or checkers

a fine figure of a man

see 1figure

as one man

old-fashioned, now usually used of a group of men
: as a group : all together

be/become your own man

: to be or become a man who is not controlled by other people or who is able to support himself without the help of other people

every man for himself

used to describe a situation in which people do not help each other and each person has to take care of himself or herself

iron man

see 2iron

man of action

see action

man of the hour

see hour

man's best friend

used to refer to a dog or to dogs as a group

poor man's

see poor

separate the men from the boys

see 2separate

the man

US, informal
somewhat old-fashioned or the Man : the police
or the Man also The Man : the white people who are seen as having power in the U.S. : the white establishment
: a man who is admired or respected as a leader or as the best man in a particular field, sport, etc.

the man in the street

or British the man on the Clapham omnibus
: the ordinary and average person

the odd man out

see odd

to a man

used to say that all the members in a group of men said, did, or thought the same thing

to the last man

: until all the men in a group are killed, defeated, etc.
2 man /ˈmæn/ interjection
2 man
/ˈmæn/
interjection
Britannica Dictionary definition of MAN
chiefly US, informal
used to express excitement, surprise, etc.
3 man /ˈmæn/ verb
mans; manned; manning
3 man
/ˈmæn/
verb
mans; manned; manning
Britannica Dictionary definition of MAN
[+ object]
: to be the person who controls or is in charge of (something)
: to place people at or on (something) to do work see also manned