Definition

1. Verb:

   • To intend to convey, indicate, or refer to: To have a particular idea, purpose, or significance in mind when speaking or acting.
   • To intend for a particular purpose or destiny: To design or destine something for a specific use or person.
   • To have as a consequence; to entail: To result in or logically imply something.
   • To be of a specified degree of importance: To have a particular value or significance to someone.

2. Adjective:

   • Unkind, spiteful, or malicious: Characterized by or showing a desire to harm others or see them suffer.
   • Stingy or miserly: Not generous, especially with money.
   • Poor or shabby in quality or appearance: Low in quality, value, or social standing.
   • Excellent, formidable (informal, especially in sports): Very skillful or effective.
   • Occupying a middle position; average: Intermediate in quantity, quality, or degree.

3. Noun:

   • A mathematical average: A value intermediate between other values, especially the arithmetic mean.
   • An intermediate point or condition: A middle way or moderate course between extremes.

Usage Examples

• Verb:

  • What does this word mean? (To signify)
  • I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. (To intend)
  • This new rule means we have to work harder. (To have as a consequence)
  • Your support means a lot to me. (To be of importance)

• Adjective:

  • That was a mean thing to say. (Unkind)
  • He's too mean to buy a proper gift. (Stingy)
  • They live in a mean little house. (Poor in quality)
  • He has a mean fastball. (Excellent, formidable)
  • The mean temperature for July is 25°C. (Average)

• Noun:

  • To calculate the mean, add all the numbers and divide by the count. (Mathematical average)
  • We must find a mean between austerity and extravagance. (Middle way)

Advanced Usage

• "To be meant to be": To be destined or fated to happen.

  • I believe we were meant to be together.

• "To mean business": To be serious and determined about something.

  • When she walked in with that look, I knew she meant business.

• "No mean...": Used to indicate that something is a significant or impressive achievement.

  • Writing a novel is no mean feat.

Variants and Related Words

• Meaning (n): The idea that is represented or the significance of something.

  • The word has several possible meanings.

• Meant (v): The past tense and past participle of the verb 'mean'.

  • I meant what I said.

• Means (n): (A separate word, plural of 'mean' as a noun in a different sense) A method, instrument, or resource used to achieve an end.

  • The bicycle is his means of transport.

Synonyms

• Verb: Signify, denote, imply, intend, indicate.
• Adjective (unkind): Nasty, malicious, cruel.
• Adjective (stingy): Miserly, tight-fisted, parsimonious.
• Adjective (average): Median, intermediate, middling.
• Noun (average): Average, median, midpoint.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Mean by: To intend to express with specific words.

  • What do you mean by that remark?

• Mean for: To intend something to be used by or to happen to someone.

  • This gift was meant for you.

Related Idioms

• Mean well: To have good intentions, even if the results are not good.

  • He's clumsy with advice, but he means well.

• By all means: Certainly; without any doubt (used to give permission).

  • "May I try?" "By all means."

• By no means: Not at all; certainly not.

  • This problem is by no means solved.

Adjective

1. of no value or worth
   • I was caught in the bastardly traffic
2. (used of sums of money) so small in amount as to deserve contempt
3. (used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity
   • a mean person
   • he left a miserly tip
4. marked by poverty befitting a beggar
   • a beggarly existence in the slums
   • a mean hut
5. excellent
   • famous for a mean backhand
6. having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality
   • that liberal obedience without which your army would be a base rabble- Edmund Burke
   • taking a mean advantage
   • chok'd with ambition of the meaner sort- Shakespeare
   • something essentially vulgar and meanspirited in politics
7. characterized by malice
   • a hateful thing to do
   • in a mean mood
8. approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
   • the average income in New England is below that of the nation
   • of average height for his age
   • the mean annual rainfall

Noun

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

Verb

1. destine or designate for a certain purpose
   • These flowers were meant for you
2. intend to refer to
   • I'm thinking of good food when I talk about France
   • Yes, I meant you when I complained about people who gossip!
3. have a specified degree of importance
   • My ex-husband means nothing to me
   • Happiness means everything
4. have in mind as a purpose
   • I mean no harm
   • I only meant to help you
   • She didn't think to harm me
   • We thought to return early that night
5. denote or connote
   • `maison' means `house' in French
   • An example sentence would show what this word means
6. have as a logical consequence
   • The water shortage means that we have to stop taking long showers
7. mean or intend to express or convey
   • You never understand what I mean!
   • what do his words intend?