The term 'make lean' can be defined by three crossword solutions: defat (5 letters), EMACIATE (8 letters), and SLANT (5 letters). Defat means to remove fat from something, usually food. EMACIATE means to make someone or something very thin and weak, often due to illness or starvation. SLANT means to give a particular bias or point of view to something. All three words can be used to describe the process of making something lean, which is to reduce its fat content and make it thinner.