- 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 dish2. a portion of soft or semiliquid food, as porridge3. unappetizing food; disagreeable concoction4.a) a group of people who regularly have their meals together, as in the armyb) the meal eaten by such a groupc) the place where it is eaten5. a disorderly or confused collection or mass of things; jumble; hodgepodge6.a) a state of embarrassment, trouble, difficulty, or confusion; muddleb) a state of being disorderly, untidy, or dirty☆ c) Informal a person in either of these states7. Informal a messy or disorderly place or condition [the house is a mess!]vt.1. to supply meals to2. to make a mess of; specif., to make dirty, soiled, or untidy; also, to bungle; muddle; botch: often with upvi.1. to eat as one of a MESS (sense 4a)2. to make a mess3. to putter (with)4. to meddle (in or with)——————☆ mess around or mess about1. to be busy in a desultory way; putter around2. Informal to become involved ( with)
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.