MEAN (meant)

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does mean mean? 

• MEAN (noun)
  The noun MEAN has 1 sense:

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

  Familiarity information: MEAN used as a noun is very rare.

• MEAN (adjective)
  The adjective MEAN has 8 senses:

1. approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value

2. characterized by malice

3. having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality

4. excellent

5. marked by poverty befitting a beggar

6. (used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity

7. (used of sums of money) so small in amount as to deserve contempt

8. of no value or worth

  Familiarity information: MEAN used as an adjective is common.

• MEAN (verb)
  The verb MEAN has 7 senses:

1. mean or intend to express or convey

2. have as a logical consequence

3. denote or connote

4. have in mind as a purpose

5. have a specified degree of importance

6. intend to refer to

7. destine or designate for a certain purpose

  Familiarity information: MEAN used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MEAN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An average of n numbers computed by adding some function of the numbers and dividing by some function of n

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

mean; mean value

Hypernyms ("mean" is a kind of...):

average; norm (a statistic describing the location of a distribution)

Domain category:

statistics (a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mean"):

arithmetic mean; expectation; expected value; first moment (the sum of the values of a random variable divided by the number of values)

geometric mean (the mean of n numbers expressed as the n-th root of their product)

harmonic mean (the mean of n numbers expressed as the reciprocal of the arithmetic mean of the reciprocals of the numbers)

Derivation:

mean (approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value)

• MEAN (adjective)

Declension: comparative and superlative

Sense 1

Meaning:

Approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value

Synonyms:

average; mean

Context example:

the mean annual rainfall

Similar:

normal (conforming with or constituting a norm or standard or level or type or social norm; not abnormal)

Domain category:

statistics (a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters)

Derivation:

mean (an average of n numbers computed by adding some function of the numbers and dividing by some function of n)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Characterized by malice

Synonyms:

hateful; mean

Context example:

in a mean mood

Similar:

awful; nasty (offensive or even (of persons) malicious)

Derivation:

meanness (the quality of being deliberately mean)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality

Synonyms:

base; mean; meanspirited

Context example:

something essentially vulgar and meanspirited in politics

Similar:

ignoble (completely lacking nobility in character or quality or purpose)

Derivation:

meanness (the quality of being deliberately mean)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Excellent

Context example:

famous for a mean backhand

Similar:

skilled (having or showing or requiring special skill)

Domain usage:

argot; cant; jargon; lingo; patois; slang; vernacular (a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves))

Sense 5

Meaning:

Marked by poverty befitting a beggar

Synonyms:

beggarly; mean

Context example:

a mean hut

Similar:

poor (characterized by or indicating poverty)

Sense 6

Meaning:

(used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity

Synonyms:

mean; mingy; miserly; tight

Context example:

he left a miserly tip

Similar:

stingy; ungenerous (unwilling to spend (money, time, resources, etc.))

Derivation:

meanness (extreme stinginess)

meanness (the quality of being deliberately mean)

Sense 7

Meaning:

(used of sums of money) so small in amount as to deserve contempt

Synonyms:

beggarly; mean

Similar:

stingy; ungenerous (unwilling to spend (money, time, resources, etc.))

Derivation:

meanness (extreme stinginess)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Of no value or worth

Synonyms:

bastardly; mean

Context example:

I was caught in the bastardly traffic

Similar:

contemptible (deserving of contempt or scorn)

• MEAN (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Mean or intend to express or convey

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

intend; mean

Context example:

what do his words intend?

Hypernyms (to "mean" is one way to...):

convey ((of information) make known; pass on)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "mean"):

represent; stand for; symbolise; symbolize; typify (express indirectly by an image, form, or model; be a symbol)

signify (convey or express a meaning)

import; spell (indicate or signify)

aim (direct (a remark) toward an intended goal)

aim; drive; get (move into a desired direction of discourse)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

meaning (the idea that is intended)

meaning (the message that is intended or expressed or signified)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Have as a logical consequence

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

entail; imply; mean

Context example:

The water shortage means that we have to stop taking long showers

Hypernyms (to "mean" is one way to...):

necessitate (cause to be a concomitant)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Denote or connote

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

intend; mean; signify; stand for

Context example:

An example sentence would show what this word means

Verb group:

signify (convey or express a meaning)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "mean"):

denote; refer (have as a meaning)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

meaning (the idea that is intended)

meaning (the message that is intended or expressed or signified)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Have in mind as a purpose

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

intend; mean; think

Context example:

We thought to return early that night

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "mean"):

design (intend or have as a purpose)

be after; plan (have the will and intention to carry out some action)

aim; propose; purport; purpose (propose or intend)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They mean to move

Sense 5

Meaning:

Have a specified degree of importance

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

Happiness means everything

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Intend to refer to

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

have in mind; mean; think of

Context example:

Yes, I meant you when I complained about people who gossip!

Hypernyms (to "mean" is one way to...):

associate; colligate; connect; link; link up; relate; tie in (make a logical or causal connection)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "mean"):

advert; bring up; cite; mention; name; refer (make reference to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 7

Meaning:

Destine or designate for a certain purpose

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

These flowers were meant for you

Hypernyms (to "mean" is one way to...):

designate; destine; intend; specify (design or destine)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

 Context examples 

The younger sat in a corner and listened with the rest of them, and could not imagine what they could mean.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

That means almost no forests can really be considered wilderness.

(Shrinking habitats have adverse effects on world ecosystems, NSF)

I didn't mean to be rude, but it's so comfortable to say all I think to you, and feel so safe and happy here.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He was realising his own meaning in the world; he was doing that for which he was made—killing meat and battling to kill it.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The surviving cells also showed signs of DNA damage which means they can be predisposed to developing cancer in the future.

(Lung damage from agricultural fires probed, SciDev.Net)

The persistent stall in autophagy means the nerve cells are unable to 'clean' the brain and this results in a build up of toxins.

(New Mechanisms Found of Cell Death in Neurodegenerative Disorders, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

A German company has already developed a prototype of the technology, which means that within an estimated two years more people will be able to use it.

(World's Fastest Film Camera, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

People who eat eggs every day should pay extra attention, since greater consumption means higher risk.

(Eggs No Longer Part of a Healthy Diet?, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

We wouldn't mind then, when there comes stormy weather.—Not for our own sakes, I mean.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Jupiter is important to everyone, but it is Pisces’ ancient ruler, so Jupiter’s movements and alignments mean more to you than most.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)