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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.

See mean in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb meant , meaning

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
to intend to express, signify, or indicate: to say what one means
1. to be used to convey; denote: the German word “ja” means “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

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

adjective

low in quality, value, or importance; paltry; poor; inferior: now usually in negative constructions: paid no mean sum
Rare low in social status or rank; of humble origin
poor in appearance; shabby: a mean dwelling
ignoble; base; small-minded; petty
stingy; miserly; penurious
☆ bad-tempered; vicious; unmanageable: said of a horse, etc.
☆ pettily or contemptibly selfish, bad-tempered, disagreeable, malicious, etc.
☆ humiliated or ashamed
☆ Informal in poor health; not well; ill; indisposed
☆ 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:

meanly adverb
meanness noun

adjective

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

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

noun

what is between extremes; intermediate state, quality, course, or procedure
avoidance of extremes or excess; moderation
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

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.
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.

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

a. Selfish in a petty way; unkind.
b. Cruel, spiteful, or malicious.
Ignoble; base: a mean motive.
Miserly; stingy.
a. Low in quality or grade; inferior.
b. 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
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

Something having a position, quality, or condition midway between extremes; a medium.
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.
Logic The middle term in a syllogism.
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.
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

Occupying a middle or intermediate position between two extremes.
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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