Definition of: mess

(mes) noun
1. A quantity of food sufficient for one meal or for a particular occasion: a mess of beans; also, a portion of soft, partly liquid food, as pottage.
2. A number of persons who habitually take their meals together, as on board ship or in military units; also, a meal taken by them.
3. The sum or total of a haul of fish.
4. A state of disorder; especially, a condition of unclean confusion.
5. A confusing and embarrassing situation.
6. An unpleasant or unclean concoction; confused jumble.
—v.i.
1. To busy oneself; dabble: often with around or about.
2. To make a mess; bungle: often with up.
3. To interfere; meddle: often with around.
4. To eat with a mess (def. 2).
—v.t.
5. To make a mess of; muddle; botch: often with up.
6. To make dirty; be foul: often with up.
7. To provide meals for. [<OF mes <L missus course at a meal, orig. pp. of mittere send]
—mess′y adjective
—mess′i·ly adverb
—mess′i·ness noun