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means definition

means (mēnz)

plural noun

  1. that by which something is done or obtained; agency the fastest means of travel
  2. resources or available wealth; often, specif., great wealth; riches a person of means

Etymology: < mean,

means Idioms

by all means

  1. without fail
  2. of course; certainly

by any means

in any way possible; at all; somehow

by means of

by using; with the aid of; through

by no (manner of) means

not at all; in no way

means to an end

a method of getting or accomplishing what one wants

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms means idiom

means Synonyms

means

n.

  1. An instrumentality or instrumentalities

    machinery, mechanism, agency, organ, channel, medium, factor, agent, auspices, power, organization; see also method 2, system 2.

  2. Wealth

    resources, substance, property; see wealth 2.

by all means

of course, certainly, yes indeed; see surely, yes.

by any means

in any way, at all, somehow; see anyhow 2.

by means of

with the aid of, somehow, through; see by 2.

by no (manner of) means

in no way, not possible, not, definitely not; see never, no.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

means Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • escape: Occupancy Numbers In most cases the means of escape is designed to evacuate all the occupants of the premises in the required time.

Converse of object

  • provide: They provide the primary means of cover in rural areas.

Adjective modifier

  • cost-effective: There are many courses on the Net that could be used in conjunction with local provision, thus providing a cost-effective means of education.

Modifies a noun

  • testing: You promised eight years ago that you would reduce means testing.

Preposition: without

  • permission: Any replication by any means without prior permission is illegal and action may be taken.
means usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

means quotes

No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slipperyand thought is viscous.

-Adams, Henry Brooks

Don't report what he says, report what he means.

-Anonymous

It would be unsound fancy and self-contradictory to expect that things which have never yet been done can be done except by means which have never yet been tried.

-Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans

means quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"means." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/means>

APA Style

means. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/means

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