[noun]

UNTIDY STATE 1 [usually sing.] a dirty or untidy state: The room was in a mess. // The kids made a mess in the bathroom.

DIFFICULT SITUATION 2 [usually sing.] a situation that is full of problems, usually because of a lack of organization or because of mistakes that someboby has made:  The economy is in a mess. // I feel I’ve made a mess of things.

PERSON 3 [sing.] a person who is dirty or whose clothes and hair are not tidy:    You’re a mess!

4 [sing.] (informal) a person who has serious problems and is in a bad mental condition

ANIMAL WASTE  5  the excrement (= solid waste matter) of an animal, usually a dog or cat. 

A LOT 6 [sing.]  a ~ of something: There’s a mess of fish down there, so get your lines in the water.

ARMED FORCES 7 (also ‘mess hall especially in NAmE) a building or room in which members of the armed forces have their meals: The officers’ mess.

[verb]

MAKE UNTIDY 1 [vn] (informal, especially NAmE) to make sth dirty or untidy: Careful—you’re messing my hair.

OF AN ANIMAL 2 [v] to empty its bowels somewhere that it should not

IDIOMS  1 no ‘messing(informal)  used to say that something has been done easily: We finished in time, no messing. 2 not mess a’round (BrE also not mess a’bout)(informal)  to do something quickly, efficiently or in the right way:  When they decide to have a party they don’t mess around.

PHRASAL VERBS  mess a’round (BrE also mess a’bout) 1 to behave in a silly and annoying way, especially instead of doing something useful.

SYNONYM  1 fool around: Will you stop messing around and get on with some work? 2 to spend time doing something for pleasure in a relaxed way:  We spent the day messing around on the river.