Definitions for mess

• Definition
• Anagrams (22)

mess mess

Spelling: [mes]

IPA: /mɛs/

Mess is a 4 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 6 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 7 points.

You can make 22 anagrams from letters in mess (emss).

Definitions for mess

noun

1. a dirty, untidy, or disordered condition:
2. a person or thing that is dirty, untidy, or disordered.
3. a state of embarrassing confusion:
4. an unpleasant or difficult situation:
5. a dirty or untidy mass, litter, or jumble:
6. a group regularly taking their meals together.
7. the meal so taken.
8. mess hall.
9. Naval. messroom.
10. a quantity of food sufficient for a dish or a single occasion:
11. a sloppy or unappetizing preparation of food.
12. a dish or quantity of soft or liquid food:
13. a person whose life or affairs are in a state of confusion, especially a person with a confused or disorganized moral or psychological outlook.

Verb phrases

1. mess around/about, Informal. to busy oneself without purpose or plan; work aimlessly or halfheartedly; putter. Informal. to waste time; loaf. Informal. to meddle or interfere. Informal. to involve or associate oneself, especially for immoral or unethical purposes: Slang. to trifle sexually; philander.
2. mess in/with, to intervene officiously; meddle:
3. mess up, to make dirty, untidy, or disordered. to make muddled, confused, etc.; make a mess of; spoil; botch. to perform poorly; bungle:

verb (used with object)

1. to make dirty or untidy (often followed by up):
2. to make a mess or muddle of (affairs, responsibilities, etc.) (often followed by up):
3. to supply with meals, as military personnel.
4. to treat roughly; beat up (usually followed by up):

verb (used without object)

1. to eat in company, especially as a member of a mess.
2. to make a dirty or untidy mess.

Origin of mess

1250-1300; Middle English mes Old French: a course at a meal Late Latin missus what is sent (i.e., put on the table), noun use of past participle of Latin mittere to send

Examples for mess

Put the desks straight first; what a mess you get them into.

Texas has always had a sense of place—that is why we are told not to mess with it.

It's the only safe way that I can see out of this mess of a harbor we've got.

It was being the riskiest studio in Hollywood that got Sony into this mess in the first place.

I then came into a district of mess halls where a meal was being served.

“The idea was to mess with the concept of Christmas,” recalled John Law, an original Cacophony member.

In fact, that candy store is heavy industry, with all the mess that entails.

“Every time you see me, you want to mess with me,” Garner exclaimed, short of breath.

Never would I have believed that I could make such a mess of it.

ESAU, an ancient who sold his birthright for a mess of breakfast food.