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| mess [ mess ] |
noun (plural mess·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. untidy condition: a dirty or untidy state
  The apartment was left in a terrible mess after the party.
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2. chaotic state: a chaotic, confused, or troublesome state or situation
Their business affairs were in a complete mess.
The workmen have made a complete mess of the repairs.
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3. untidy person or thing: somebody or something in a confused, dirty, or untidy state
(
informal
)
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4. place for communal meals: a place where a group of people, especially members of the armed forces, have meals together
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5. people who eat together: a group of people, especially members of the armed forces, who have meals together
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6. communal meal: a meal eaten together by a group of people, especially members of the armed forces
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7. quantity of food: a serving or quantity of food, especially of soft or soggy food
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verb (past and past participle messed, present participle mess·ing, 3rd person present singular mess·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. intransitive verb meddle: to interfere in something
Don't mess in their business.
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2. transitive and intransitive verb make something dirty: to make something dirty, muddled, or disordered
She messed her jacket while checking the oil.
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3. intransitive verb use something carelessly: to use something carelessly, causing a problem or damage as a result
Who's been messing with my computer?
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4. intransitive verb eat together: to take meals along with a particular group of people, especially members of the armed forces
I used to mess with the three of them.
We messed together in the army.
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| [13th century. < Old French, "portion of food" < Latin mittere "send, put"] |
