n.1 Eccl. the period from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, of which the 40 weekdays are devoted to fasting and penitence in commemoration of Christ's fasting in the wilderness.
2 (in pl.) the boat races held at Cambridge in the Lent term.
Phrases and idioms:
Lent lily Brit. a daffodil, esp. a wild one. Lent term Brit. the term at a university etc. in which Lent falls.
Etymology: ME f. LENTEN