Mean - definition, pronunciation, transcription

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Amer.  |miːn|  American pronunciation of the word mean
Brit.  |miːn|  British pronunciation of the word mean
irregular verb:  p.t. — meant  p.p. — meant

noun

- an average of n numbers computed by adding some function of the numbers and dividing by some function of n

verb

- mean or intend to express or convey (syn: intend)
You never understand what I mean!
- have as a logical consequence (syn: entail, imply)
The water shortage means that we have to stop taking long showers
- denote or connote (syn: intend, signify)
'maison' means 'house' in French
An example sentence would show what this word means
- have in mind as a purpose (syn: intend, think)
I mean no harm
I only meant to help you
- have a specified degree of importance
My ex-husband means nothing to me
Happiness means everything
- intend to refer to
Yes, I meant you when I complained about people who gossip!
- destine or designate for a certain purpose
These flowers were meant for you

adjective

- approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value (syn: average)
the mean annual rainfall
- characterized by malice (syn: hateful)
in a mean mood
- having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality (syn: base)
taking a mean advantage
chok'd with ambition of the meaner sort
something essentially vulgar and meanspirited in politics
- excellent
famous for a mean backhand
- marked by poverty befitting a beggar (syn: beggarly)
a mean hut
- (used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity (syn: mingy, miserly, tight)
a mean person
- (used of sums of money) so small in amount as to deserve contempt (syn: beggarly)
- of no value or worth (syn: bastardly)

Extra examples

The word meant one thing in Shakespeare's day, but it means something else now.

Can you tell me what my dream means?

What was meant by the poet?

Don't distort what she meant by taking her words out of context.

He's very ambitious, and I mean that as a compliment.

It's a very easy question. Anyone, and I mean anyone, should be able to answer it.

She's not getting any thinner, if you know what I mean.

She says she didn't mean anything by what she did.

I don't trust him. He means no good.

Take all these temperatures and calculate their mean.

Trying to find a golden mean between doing too little and doing too much

Red means “stop” and green means “go.”

He thrust in some mean and unimportant anecdote.

Mr. Ronnie Scott plays a mean saxophone.

She means to win.

Word forms

verb
I/you/we/they: mean
he/she/it: means
present participle: meaning
past tense: meant
past participle: meant
noun
singular: mean
plural: means
adjective
comparative: meaner
superlative: meanest
Current translation version is made automatically. You can suggest your own version. Changes will take effect after the administrator approves them.
Original text in English:
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Community translations to English:
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