Mean
[miːn] or [min]
Definition
(noun.) an average of n numbers computed by adding some function of the numbers and dividing by some function of n.
(verb.) destine or designate for a certain purpose; 'These flowers were meant for you'.
(verb.) denote or connote; '`maison' means `house' in French'; 'An example sentence would show what this word means'.
(verb.) mean or intend to express or convey; 'You never understand what I mean!'; 'what do his words intend?'.
(verb.) have a specified degree of importance; 'My ex-husband means nothing to me'; 'Happiness means everything'.
(adj.) (used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity; 'a mean person'; 'he left a miserly tip' .
(adj.) excellent; 'famous for a mean backhand' .
Typed by Chauncey--From WordNet
Definition
(v. t.) To have in the mind, as a purpose, intention, etc.; to intend; to purpose; to design; as, what do you mean to do ?
(v. t.) To signify; to indicate; to import; to denote.
(v. i.) To have a purpose or intention.
(superl.) Destitute of distinction or eminence; common; low; vulgar; humble.
(superl.) Wanting dignity of mind; low-minded; base; destitute of honor; spiritless; as, a mean motive.
(superl.) Of little value or account; worthy of little or no regard; contemptible; despicable.
(superl.) Of poor quality; as, mean fare.
(superl.) Penurious; stingy; close-fisted; illiberal; as, mean hospitality.
(a.) Occupying a middle position; middle; being about midway between extremes.
(a.) Intermediate in excellence of any kind.
(a.) Average; having an intermediate value between two extremes, or between the several successive values of a variable quantity during one cycle of variation; as, mean distance; mean motion; mean solar day.
(n.) That which is mean, or intermediate, between two extremes of place, time, or number; the middle point or place; middle rate or degree; mediocrity; medium; absence of extremes or excess; moderation; measure.
(n.) A quantity having an intermediate value between several others, from which it is derived, and of which it expresses the resultant value; usually, unless otherwise specified, it is the simple average, formed by adding the quantities together and dividing by their number, which is called an arithmetical mean. A geometrical mean is the square root of the product of the quantities.
(n.) That through which, or by the help of which, an end is attained; something tending to an object desired; intermediate agency or measure; necessary condition or coagent; instrument.
(n.) Hence: Resources; property, revenue, or the like, considered as the condition of easy livelihood, or an instrumentality at command for effecting any purpose; disposable force or substance.
(n.) A part, whether alto or tenor, intermediate between the soprano and base; a middle part.
(n.) Meantime; meanwhile.
(n.) A mediator; a go-between.
Edited by Cathryn
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. [1]. Middle, medium, average.[2]. Intermediate, intervening, coming between.[3]. Ignoble, plebeian, untitled, low, base-born, ordinary, common, vulgar, coarse, homespun.[4]. Base, abject, grovelling, vile, contemptible, despicable, servile, beggarly, sneaking, dirty, scurvy, shabby, sorry, disingenuous, unfair, rascally, pitiful, base-minded, low-minded, dishonorable.[5]. Sordid, penurious, miserly, stingy, niggardly, illiberal, ungenerous, selfish, narrow, mercenary, narrow-minded.[6]. Small, little, paltry, insignificant, diminutive, petty, poor, wretched.
n. [1]. Medium, mediocrity, middle state, middle course.[2]. Instrument, method, mode, way, means.
v. a. [1]. Intend, purpose, design, have in view.[2]. Signify, indicate, imply, denote, purport, import, express.
v. n. Intend, purpose, design, have in view, propose to one's self.
Inputed by Ferdinand
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Common, low, base, spiritless, dishonorable, contemptible, despicable,beggarly, sordid, vulgar, niggardly, vile
ANT:High, exalted, eminent, spirited, honorable, lordly, princely, munificent,liberal, generous
SYN:Intend, purpose, design, signify, denote, indicate, hint, suggest
ANT:Say, state, enunciate,[See DO], execute, perform
SYN:Medium, moderation, balance, average
ANT:Extreme, excess, preponderance, disproportion, deficiency, shortcoming,inadequacy
SYN:Middle, intermediate, average
ANT:Extreme, excessive, exorbitant
Typist: Vance
Definition
adj. low in rank or birth: base: sordid: low in worth or estimation: of little value or importance: poor humble: despicable.—adj. Mean′-born of humble origin.—adv. Mean′ly.—n. Mean′ness state or quality of being mean: want of nobility or excellence: a low action.—adj. Mean′-spir′ited having a mean spirit base.—n. Mean′-spir′itedness.
adj. middle: coming between two others in size degree quantity time &c.: average: moderate.—n. the middle point quantity value or degree: (math.) a term interpolated between two terms of a series and consequently intermediate in magnitude: (mus.) a middle voice or voice-part as the tenor or alto the second or third string in a viol: instrument or medium: (pl.) that by which anything is caused or brought to pass: income: estate: instrument.—n. Mean′-time the interval between two given times.—advs. Mean′time Mean′while in the intervening time.—Means of grace divine ordinances by which divine grace reaches the hearts of men—word and sacraments.—Arithmetical mean the average obtained by adding several quantities together and dividing the sum by their number; Harmonic mean the reciprocal of the arithmetical mean of the reciprocals of the quantities concerned; Geometric mean the mean obtained by multiplying two quantities together and extracting the square root of the product; Golden mean the middle course between two extremes: a wise moderation; Quadratic mean the square root of the arithmetical mean of the squares of the given quantities.—By all means certainly; By any means in any way; By no means certainly not.—In the mean (Spens.) in the meantime.
v.i. (Shak.) to lament to moan.
v.t. to have in the mind or thoughts: to intend to purpose: to signify.—v.i. to have in the mind: to have meaning or disposition:—pr.p. mean′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. meant (ment).—n. Mean′ing that which is in the mind or thoughts: signification: the sense intended: purpose.—adj. significant.—adj. Mean′ingless without meaning.—adv. Mean′ingly.
Checker: Mimi
Examples
- Yes, I mean to. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- But this does not mean that men will have become homeless and all adrift. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Do you mean to join us at dinner? Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- What I mean is, Lizzie, that I am a mere impertinent piece of conceit, and you shame me. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Do I mean to say! Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- I mean to say that there do exist natures gifted with those opposite qualities. Plato. The Republic.
- You know, I'm a stranger here, so perhaps I'm not so quick at understanding what you mean as if I'd lived all my life at Milton. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- Which means, I suppose, that you are not quite clear about your case? Arthur Conan Doyle. The Return of Sherlock Holmes.
- Until Edison made his wonderful invention in 1877, the human race was entirely without means for preserving or passing on to posterity its own linguistic utterances or any other vocal sound. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- It will by no means follow, however, that the real exchange was against it. Adam Smith. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
- This means that definite coordinations of activities of the eyes in seeing and of the body and head in striking are perfected in a few trials. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- And education is not a mere means to such a life. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- As I perceive that your boots, although used, are by no means dirty, I cannot doubt that you are at present busy enough to justify the hansom. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- That's what Bertha means, isn't it? Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- Yet it was a hard time for sensitive, high-spirited Jo, who meant so well and had apparently done so ill. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- But she took such a long walk up and down our rooms that night, while I was writing to Agnes, that I began to think she meant to walk till morning. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- He had always meant to do something, and Amy's advice was quite unnecessary. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- He said as much in our short interview, and I fancy that he meant it. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- But I had once meant better than that, and I am come back to my old intention. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- I never meant, my dear Wegg--' Mr Boffin was beginning, when Silas stopped him. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- This attitude is what is practically meant by will. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- Every day, now, old Scriptural phrases that never possessed any significance for me before, take to themselves a meaning. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- It seemed all at once to take the shape of an impertinence on her part; she read this meaning too in the man's eyes. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- I do not apprehend your meaning. Plato. The Republic.
- If it had a new meaning that smote him to the heart, the change was in his perception, not in her. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Emma has been meaning to read more ever since she was twelve years old. Jane Austen. Emma.
- Therefore I checked myself, and made my meaning plainer. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- They reveal a depth and range of meaning in experiences which otherwise might be mediocre and trivial. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
Typist: Rudy