Mean

English Meaning

To have in the mind, as a purpose, intention, etc.; to intend; to purpose; to design; as, what do you mean to do ?

1. To be used to convey; denote: "'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things'” ( Lewis Carroll).
2. To act as a symbol of; signify or represent: In this poem, the budding flower means youth.
3. To intend to convey or indicate: "No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous” ( Henry Adams).
4. To have as a purpose or an intention; intend: I meant to go running this morning, but I overslept.
5. To design, intend, or destine for a certain purpose or end: a building that was meant for storage; a student who was meant to be a scientist.
6. To have as a consequence; bring about: Friction means heat.
7. To have the importance or value of: The opinions of the critics meant nothing to him. She meant so much to me.
8. To have intentions of a specified kind; be disposed: They mean well but lack tact.
9. mean business Informal To be in earnest.
10. Selfish in a petty way; unkind.
11. Cruel, spiteful, or malicious.
12. Ignoble; base: a mean motive.
13. Miserly; stingy.
14. Low in quality or grade; inferior.
15. Low in value or amount; paltry: paid no mean amount for the new shoes.
16. Common or poor in appearance; shabby: "The rowhouses had been darkened by the rain and looked meaner and grimmer than ever” ( Anne Tyler).
17. Low in social status; of humble origins.
18. Humiliated or ashamed.
19. In poor physical condition; sick or debilitated.
20. Extremely unpleasant or disagreeable: The meanest storm in years.
21. Informal Ill-tempered.
22. Slang Hard to cope with; difficult or troublesome: He throws a mean fast ball.
23. Slang Excellent; skillful: She plays a mean game of bridge.
24. Something having a position, quality, or condition midway between extremes; a medium.
25. Mathematics A number that typifies a set of numbers, such as a geometric mean or an arithmetic mean.
26. Mathematics The average value of a set of numbers.
27. Logic The middle term in a syllogism.
28. A method, a course of action, or an instrument by which an act can be accomplished or an end achieved.
29. Money, property, or other wealth: You ought to live within your means.
30. Great wealth: a woman of means.
31. Occupying a middle or intermediate position between two extremes.
32. Intermediate in size, extent, quality, time, or degree; medium.
33. by all means Without fail; certainly.
34. by any means In any way possible; to any extent: not by any means an easy opponent.
35. by means of With the use of; owing to: They succeeded by means of patience and sacrifice.
36. by no means In no sense; certainly not: This remark by no means should be taken lightly.