[cli.ent] n [ME, fr. MF & L; MF client, fr. L client-, cliens; perh. akin to L clinare to lean--more at lean] (14c) 1: one that is under the protection of another: dependent
2. a: a person who engages the professional advice or services of another "a lawyer's ~s" b: customer "hotel ~s" c: a person served by or utilizing the services of a social agency "a welfare ~"
3: client state -- cli.ent.age n -- cli.en.tal adj -- cli.ent.less adj