Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - mess

~1 n 1 »DIRTY/UNTIDY« a situation in which a place looks very untidy or dirty, with things spread all around  (Clean up this mess! | The house was an awful mess after the party. | make a mess)  (You can make cookies if you promise not to make a mess in the kitchen.) 2 »PROBLEMS/DIFFICULTIES« informal a situation in which there are a lot of problems and difficulties, especially as a result of mistakes or carelessness  (We have to sort this problem out - the whole thing's a mess. | You got us into this mess, Terry. You can get us out of it.) 3 be in a mess to be very untidy or dirty, very disorganized or full of problems  (The previous chairman had left the company in a terrible mess. | My life was in a real mess and I didn't know what to do.) 4 make a mess of informal to do something badly and make a lot of mistakes  (I made a complete mess of that test. | They've made such a mess of the economy.) 5 a mess of AmE informal a lot of  (The dress had a high neck with a mess of buttons coming down the back.) 6 »ARMY/NAVY« a room in which members of the army, navy etc eat and drink together 7 »WASTE MATTER« informal especially BrE solid waste material from a baby or animal  (The dog's made a mess on the carpet!) ~2 v to have meals in a room where members of the army, navy etc eat together mess around also mess about BrE phr v informal 1 to spend time lazily, doing things slowly and in a way that is not planned  (He spent his vacation messing around on the farm.) 2 to behave in a silly way when you should be working or paying attention  (Stop messing around and help me move this furniture.) 3 T mess someone around/about) to cause a lot of problems for someone, especially by changing your mind often or preventing them from getting what they want  (Don't mess me about - I want the money you promised me.) mess around with also mess about with BrE phr v informal 1 to have a sexual relationship with someone that you should not have a sexual relationship with  (She'd been messing around with another man.) 2 to spend time playing with something, repairing it etc  (Dave likes messing around with old cars.) mess up phr v informal 1 T mess something up) to spoil or ruin something, especially something important or something that has been carefully planned  (It took me ages to get this right - I don't want some idiot to mess it up. | She felt she'd messed up her whole life.) 2 T mess something up) to make something dirty or untidy  (Who messed up the kitchen?) 3 T mess something up) to make a mistake and do something badly  (It doesn't matter if you mess it up, you can always try again.) + on  (I think I messed up on the last question.)  (- see also messed up, mess­up) mess with phr v don't mess with spoken a) used to warn someone not to annoy or argue with someone  (Don't mess with me, buddy.) b) used to warn someone not to get involved with something that is dangerous or harmful  (Don't mess with illegal drugs. Just say no!)