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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Wean: Definition, Usage & Common Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：phase off (wean)

wean 🔊

/wiːn/

vt.

To gradually stop someone from relying on or using something, especially a bad habit or an unhealthy thing.

Wean meaning illustrated: a comic strip showing gradual reduction of candy in a jar.

phase off 🔊

➕

/feɪz ɒf/

vt.

To help someone gradually reduce and eventually stop their dependence on something, typically something seen as harmful or unnecessary.

📁 Category：Diet & Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'wenian' meaning 'to accustom, habituate'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think: WEE ones need to be weANed from milk to solid food.

📖 Example

After realizing how much sugar was in his diet, he decided to wean himself off soda by first switching to sparkling water. 🔊 After realizing how much sugar was in his diet, he decided to phase himself off soda by first switching to sparkling water.

🔗 Collocations

wean off – to gradually stop using or depending on something

wean from – to gradually separate someone from a dependency

wean oneself – to deliberately and gradually stop one's own habit

🔄 Synonyms

detach (vt.) – to disengage or separate someone from a dependency

taper off (phrasal v.) – to gradually reduce the amount or frequency of something

break of (phrasal v.) – to cause someone to stop a habit, often gradually

🚫 Antonyms

addict (vt.) – to cause someone to become dependent on a substance

habituate (vt.) – to accustom or make used to something

🌱 Derivatives

weaning (n.) – the process of weaning

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'wean' comes from the Old English 'wenian', which means 'to accustom'. It is related to the German 'entwöhnen'. Historically, it described the nearly universal practice of gradually transitioning a baby from mother's milk to other foods.

Meaning 2：transition from breastmilk (wean)

wean 🔊

/wiːn/

vt.

To gradually stop feeding a baby or young animal with its mother's milk and start giving it other food.

Weaning a baby: mother feeding infant puree, transitioning from breastmilk.

transition from breastmilk 🔊

➕

/trænˈzɪʃən frɒm ˈbrɛstmɪlk/

vt.

To gradually introduce an infant or young mammal to food other than its mother's milk.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Most parents start to wean their babies when they are around six months old, introducing them to soft foods like mashed bananas. 🔊 Most parents start to transition their babies from breastmilk when they are around six months old, introducing them to soft foods like mashed bananas.

🔗 Collocations

wean a baby – to start feeding a baby food other than breast milk

wean onto solids – to introduce solid food to an infant's diet

early weaning – the process of starting to wean earlier than typical

🔄 Synonyms

ablactate (vt.) – a technical term for weaning from the breast

🚫 Antonyms

nurse (v.) – to feed a baby from the breast

suckle (v.) – to feed by drawing milk from the breast

🌱 Derivatives

weanling (n.) – a child or young animal recently weaned