mess

mess [mes]

n.

[ME messe < OFr mes < L missus, a course (at a meal), orig. pp. of mittere, to send, put: see MISSION]

1. a portion or quantity of food for a meal or dish

2. a portion of soft or semiliquid food, as porridge

3. unappetizing food; disagreeable concoction

4.

a) a group of people who regularly have their meals together, as in the army

b) the meal eaten by such a group

c) the place where it is eaten

5. a disorderly or confused collection or mass of things; jumble; hodgepodge

6.

a) a state of embarrassment, trouble, difficulty, or confusion; muddle

b) a state of being disorderly, untidy, or dirty

☆ c) Informal a person in either of these states

7. Informal a messy or disorderly place or condition [the house is a mess!]

vt.

1. to supply meals to

2. to make a mess of; specif., to make dirty, soiled, or untidy; also, to bungle; muddle; botch: often with up

vi.

1. to eat as one of a MESS (sense 4a)

2. to make a mess

3. to putter (with)

4. to meddle (in or with)

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☆ mess around or mess about

1. to be busy in a desultory way; putter around

2. Informal to become involved ( with)