mean

The definition of mean is to have in mind as a purpose.

(verb)

An example of mean is to intend to buy bread, milk and eggs after work.

Mean is defined as unkind or cruel.

(adjective)

An example of mean is a child who constantly bullies another child.

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See mean in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb meant , meaning

  1. to have in mind; intend; purpose: he means to go
    1. to intend or design for a certain person or purpose: a gift meant for you
    2. to destine or seem to destine: he was meant to be a doctor
  2. to intend to express, signify, or indicate: to say what one means
    1. to be used to convey; denote: the German word “jameans “yes”
    2. to be a sign, indication, or herald of; signify: this means war!

Origin: 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

intransitive verb

  1. to have a purpose or intention in mind: chiefly in , to have good intentions
  2. to have a (specified) degree of importance, effect, or influence: honors mean little to him

adjective

  1. low in quality, value, or importance; paltry; poor; inferior: now usually in negative constructions: paid no mean sum
  2. Rare low in social status or rank; of humble origin
  3. poor in appearance; shabby: a mean dwelling
  4. ignoble; base; small-minded; petty
  5. stingy; miserly; penurious
  6. ☆ bad-tempered; vicious; unmanageable: said of a horse, etc.
  7. ☆ pettily or contemptibly selfish, bad-tempered, disagreeable, malicious, etc.
  8. ☆ humiliated or ashamed
  9. Informal in poor health; not well; ill; indisposed
  10. Slang
    1. hard to cope with; difficult: to throw a mean curve in baseball
    2. skillful; expert: to play a mean game of chess

Origin: ME mene, common, hence mean < OE (ge)mæne, akin to Ger gemein, plentiful, common

Related Forms:

adjective

  1. halfway between extremes; in a middle or intermediate position as to place, time, quantity, quality, kind, value, degree, etc.
  2. medium; average; middling

Origin: ME mene < OFr meien (Fr moyen) < L medianus: see median

noun

  1. what is between extremes; intermediate state, quality, course, or procedure
  2. avoidance of extremes or excess; moderation
  3. Math.
    1. a number between the smallest and largest values of a set of quantities, obtained by some prescribed method: unless otherwise qualified, the arithmetic mean
    2. the number obtained by multiplying each value of x by the probability (or probability density) of x and then summing (or integrating) over the range of x
    3. the second or third term of a four-term proportion

See mean in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb meant meant (mĕnt), mean·ing, means
verb, transitive
  1. a. To be used to convey; denote: “‘The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things’” (Lewis Carroll).
    b. To act as a symbol of; signify or represent: In this poem, the budding flower means youth.
  2. 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).
  3. To have as a purpose or an intention; intend: I meant to go running this morning, but I overslept.
  4. 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.
  5. To have as a consequence; bring about: Friction means heat.
  6. To have the importance or value of: The opinions of the critics meant nothing to him. She meant so much to me.
verb, intransitive
To have intentions of a specified kind; be disposed: They mean well but lack tact.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English menen

Origin: , from Old English mǣnan, to tell of; see mei-no- in Indo-European roots

.

adjective mean·er, mean·est
  1. a. Selfish in a petty way; unkind.
    b. Cruel, spiteful, or malicious.
  2. Ignoble; base: a mean motive.
  3. Miserly; stingy.
  4. a. Low in quality or grade; inferior.
    b. Low in value or amount; paltry: paid no mean amount for the new shoes.
  5. Common or poor in appearance; shabby: “The rowhouses had been darkened by the rain and looked meaner and grimmer than ever” (Anne Tyler).
  6. Low in social status; of humble origins.
  7. Humiliated or ashamed.
  8. In poor physical condition; sick or debilitated.
  9. Extremely unpleasant or disagreeable: The meanest storm in years.
  10. Informal Ill-tempered.
  11. Slang
    a. Hard to cope with; difficult or troublesome: He throws a mean fast ball.
    b. Excellent; skillful: She plays a mean game of bridge.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English gemǣne, common; see mei-1 in Indo-European roots

.

noun
  1. Something having a position, quality, or condition midway between extremes; a medium.
  2. Mathematics
    a. A number that typifies a set of numbers, such as a geometric mean or an arithmetic mean.
    b. The average value of a set of numbers.
  3. Logic The middle term in a syllogism.
  4. means (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A method, a course of action, or an instrument by which an act can be accomplished or an end achieved.
  5. means (used with a pl. verb)
    a. Money, property, or other wealth: You ought to live within your means.
    b. Great wealth: a woman of means.
adjective
  1. Occupying a middle or intermediate position between two extremes.
  2. Intermediate in size, extent, quality, time, or degree; medium.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English mene, middle

Origin: , from Old French meien

Origin: , from Latin mediānus

Origin: , from medius; see medhyo- in Indo-European roots

.

Usage Note: In the sense of “financial resources” means takes a plural verb: His means are more than adequate. In the sense of “a way to an end,” means may be treated as either a singular or plural. It is singular when referring to a particular strategy or method: The best means of securing the cooperation of the builders is to appeal to their self-interest. It is plural when it refers to a group of strategies or methods: The most effective means for dealing with the drug problem have generally been those suggested by the affected communities. • Means is most often followed by of: a means of noise reduction. But for, to, and toward are also used: a means for transmitting sound; a means to an end; a means toward achieving equality.

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