mean*/*/*/

mean*/*/*/
[miːn] (past tense and past participle meant [ment] ) verb [T] I
1) to have a particular meaning
What does ‘maudlin' mean?[/ex]
The word ‘serviette' means something different in French.[/ex]
2) to intend to communicate a particular meaning
By ‘partner', I mean your wife, your husband, or someone you live with.[/ex]
Don't be offended, she meant it as a joke.[/ex]
She didn't reply to our invitation, which probably means she isn't coming.[/ex]
3) to intend something, or to intend to do something
She had never meant him any real harm.[/ex]
I didn't mean to step on your toe.[/ex]
4) to make something happen, or to have a particular result
The company's failure could mean that hundreds of workers lose their jobs.[/ex]
The new contract will mean starting the whole project again.[/ex]
5) to be evidence that something exists
That dark patch means that water is coming in.[/ex]
•
be meant for — to be intended, designed, or suitable for something or someone[/ex]
These books are not meant for primary school students.[/ex]
be meant to do sth — to have a particular responsibility, duty, or purpose[/ex]
You were meant to keep the children out of trouble.[/ex]
(do) you mean...? — spoken used for saying what someone else has said using different words, as a way of asking them if you have understood it correctly[/ex]
You mean we do the work and you get the money?[/ex]
I know what you mean — spoken used for telling someone that you understand their situation very well[/ex]
I mean — spoken 1) used for adding a comment, or for explaining what you have just said[/ex]
We couldn't live on that! I mean, it's ridiculous.[/ex]

— 2) used for correcting a mistake in something you have just said

Let's ask Mark. I mean Marco.[/ex]
I see what you mean — spoken used for telling someone that you understand what they are saying[/ex]
mean nothing — to have no importance[/ex]
He spoke in a relaxed, slow way, as if time meant nothing to him.[/ex]
what do you mean? — spoken 1) used for asking someone to explain what they have said; 2) used for showing that you are shocked or annoyed about something that someone has told you[/ex]
What do you mean you can't find the keys?[/ex]
II
adj
mean */[miːn]
1) cruel or unkind
Don't do that – it's mean.[/ex]
The older kids were mean to him.[/ex]
2) British
not willing to spend money
Syn:
She was too mean to put the heating on.[/ex]
3) technical
average
the mean annual temperature[/ex]
4) informal
very good
She plays a mean game of tennis.[/ex]
•
no mean feat/achievement — very impressive[/ex]
She won her first championship at age 17, which is no mean achievement.[/ex]
III
noun [C] technical
mean [miːn]
an average number or amount

Dictionary for writing and speaking English. 2014.

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  • Mean — Mean, a. [OE. mene, OF. meiien, F. moyen, fr. L. medianus that is in the middle, fr. medius; akin to E. mid. See {Mid}.] 1. Occupying a middle position; middle; being about midway between extremes. [1913 Webster] Being of middle age and a mean… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Mean — «Mean» Sencillo de Taylor Swift del álbum Speak Now Publicación 31 de marzo, 2011 Grabación 2010 Género(s) Country pop Duración 3:58 …   Wikipedia Español

  • mean# — mean adj Mean, ignoble, abject, sordid can all be applied to persons, their behavior, or the conditions in which they live with the meaning so low as to be out of keeping with human dignity or generally acceptable standards of human life or… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Mean — Mean, n. 1. That which is mean, or intermediate, between two extremes of place, time, or number; the middle point or place; middle rate or degree; mediocrity; medium; absence of extremes or excess; moderation; measure. [1913 Webster] But to speak …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mean — mean1 [mēn] vt. meant [ment] meaning [ME menen < OE mænan, to mean, tell, complain, akin to Ger meinen, to have in mind, have as opinion < IE base * meino , opinion, intent > OIr mian, wish, desire] 1. to have in mind; intend; purpose… …   English World dictionary

  • Mean — (m[=e]n), a. [Compar. {Meaner} (m[=e]n [ e]r); superl. {Meanest}.] [OE. mene, AS. m[=ae]ne wicked; akin to m[=a]n, a., wicked, n., wickedness, OS. m[=e]n wickedness, OHG. mein, G. meineid perjury, Icel. mein harm, hurt, and perh. to AS.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mean — 1. In the meaning ‘to intend’, mean can be followed by a to infinitive (when the speaker intends to do something: I meant to go), by an object + to infinitive (when the speaker intends someone else to do something: I meant you to go) and, more… …   Modern English usage

  • Méan — (homonymie) Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom.  France Méan est une ancienne commune française de la Loire Atlantique, aujourd hui intégrée à Saint Nazaire …   Wikipédia en Français

  • mean — Ⅰ. mean [1] ► VERB (past and past part. meant) 1) intend to express or refer to. 2) (of a word) have as its explanation in the same language or its equivalent in another language. 3) intend to occur or be the case. 4) have as a consequence. 5) …   English terms dictionary

  • Mean — (m[=e]n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Meant} (m[e^]nt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Meaning}.] [OE. menen, AS. m[=ae]nan to recite, tell, intend, wish; akin to OS. m[=e]nian to have in mind, mean, D. meenen, G. meinen, OHG. meinan, Icel. meina, Sw. mena, Dan. mene …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mean — [adj1] ungenerous close, greedy, mercenary, mingy, miserly, niggard, parsimonious, penny pinching*, penurious, rapacious, scrimpy, selfish, stingy, tight, tight fisted*; concept 334 Ant. generous, kind, unselfish mean [adj2] hostile, rude bad… …   New thesaurus

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