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 ?
- To be used to convey; denote: "'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things'” ( Lewis Carroll).
- To act as a symbol of; signify or represent: In this poem, the budding flower means youth.
- 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).
- To have as a purpose or an intention; intend: I meant to go running this morning, but I overslept.
- 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.
- To have as a consequence; bring about: Friction means heat.
- To have the importance or value of: The opinions of the critics meant nothing to him. She meant so much to me.
- To have intentions of a specified kind; be disposed: They mean well but lack tact.
- mean business Informal To be in earnest.
- Selfish in a petty way; unkind.
- Cruel, spiteful, or malicious.
- Ignoble; base: a mean motive.
- Miserly; stingy.
- Low in quality or grade; inferior.
- Low in value or amount; paltry: paid no mean amount for the new shoes.
- Common or poor in appearance; shabby: "The rowhouses had been darkened by the rain and looked meaner and grimmer than ever” ( Anne Tyler).
- Low in social status; of humble origins.
- Humiliated or ashamed.
- In poor physical condition; sick or debilitated.
- Extremely unpleasant or disagreeable: The meanest storm in years.
- Informal Ill-tempered.
- Slang Hard to cope with; difficult or troublesome: He throws a mean fast ball.
- Slang Excellent; skillful: She plays a mean game of bridge.
- Something having a position, quality, or condition midway between extremes; a medium.
- Mathematics A number that typifies a set of numbers, such as a geometric mean or an arithmetic mean.
- Mathematics The average value of a set of numbers.
- Logic The middle term in a syllogism.
- A method, a course of action, or an instrument by which an act can be accomplished or an end achieved.
- Money, property, or other wealth: You ought to live within your means.
- Great wealth: a woman of means.
- Occupying a middle or intermediate position between two extremes.
- Intermediate in size, extent, quality, time, or degree; medium.
- by all means Without fail; certainly.
- by any means In any way possible; to any extent: not by any means an easy opponent.
- by means of With the use of; owing to: They succeeded by means of patience and sacrifice.
- by no means In no sense; certainly not: This remark by no means should be taken lightly.