mean

adjective

UK /miːn/

Word Forms

adjective	mean
comparative	meaner
superlative	meanest

1
informalcruel, or unkind
Our teachers were just mean.
be mean to someone:
Don’t be so mean to your sister.
Synonyms and related words
Cruel and unkind
cruel
unkind
evil
1. 1a
  angry and violent
  a mean look in his eye
  a mean horse
  Synonyms and related words
  Feeling angry or annoyed
  angry
  annoyed
  upset
2
Britishnot willing to spend money. The usual American word is cheap
She was too mean to put the heating on.
Synonyms and related words
Careful with money
thrifty
economical
frugal
3
mainly literarytypical of the living conditions and environment of poor people
a mean little house
mean streets
Synonyms and related words
Poor
poor
impoverished
penniless
4
mathscalculated by adding several numbers together and dividing the total by the original number of things you added together
Calculate the mean distance travelled.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe numbers
annualized
average
binary
5
only before nouninformalexcellent, or skilful
She plays a mean game of tennis.
Synonyms and related words
Skilful and able
able
capable
professional
Synonyms and related words
Extremely good or of a high quality
excellent
exceptional
high-grade
6
have a mean streak
to be typically mean
Do you think great leaders must have a mean streak to succeed?
Submitted by:
Boris Marchenko from Russian Federation on 14/08/2017
Open Dictionary - August2017

mean

adjective

US /min/

Word Forms

adjective	mean
comparative	meaner
superlative	meanest

1
informalcruel, or unkind
Our teachers were just mean.
be mean to someone:
Don’t be so mean to your sister.
Synonyms and related words
Cruel and unkind
cruel
unkind
evil
1. 1a
  angry and violent
  a mean look in his eye
  a mean horse
  Synonyms and related words
  Feeling angry or annoyed
  angry
  annoyed
  upset
2
only before nouninformalexcellent, or skillful
She plays a mean game of tennis.
Synonyms and related words
Skillful and able
skillful
able
capable
Synonyms and related words
Extremely good or of a high quality
good
excellent
wonderful
3
mainly literarytypical of the living conditions and environment of poor people
a mean little house
mean streets
Synonyms and related words
Poor
poor
impoverished
penniless
4
Britishcheap (=not willing to spend money)
She was too mean to turn on the heat.
Synonyms and related words
Careful with money
economic
careful
economies
5
mathscalculated by adding several numbers together and dividing the total by the original number of things you added together
Calculate the mean distance traveled.
Synonyms and related words
Words used to describe numbers
annualized
average
binary
6
have a mean streak
to be typically mean
Do you think great leaders must have a mean streak to succeed?
Submitted by:
Boris Marchenko from Russian Federation on 14/08/2017
Open Dictionary - August2017

mean

noun countable

UK /miːn/

Word Forms

singular	mean
plural	means

1
mathsan amount that is calculated by adding several numbers together and dividing the total by the original number of things that you added together
Synonyms and related words
Averages
average
norm
mean
2
formalsomething that is between two extremes or opposites
Synonyms and related words
Satisfactory and good enough
satisfactory
adequate
fine

mean

noun countable

US /min/

Word Forms

singular	mean
plural	means

1
mathsan amount that is calculated by adding several numbers together and dividing the total by the original number of things that you added together
Synonyms and related words
Averages
average
norm
mean
2
formalsomething that is between two extremes or opposites
Synonyms and related words
Satisfactory and good enough
satisfactory
adequate
fine

mean

verb transitive

UK /miːn/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	mean
he/she/it	means
present participle	meaning
past tense	meant
past participle	meant

1
to have a particular meaning
The word means something different in French.
What does ‘pulchritude’ mean?
mean something by something:
Everything depends on what you mean by the word ‘free’.
Synonyms and related words
To have a meaning
mean
intend
say
1. 1a
  to communicate a particular meaning, feeling, or piece of information
  When you shake your head it usually means ‘no’.
  For most people, Paris means romance.
  His behaviour doesn’t mean that he doesn’t like you.
  take something to mean something (=understand it to have a particular meaning):
  I took their silence to mean disapproval.
  Synonyms and related words
  To have a meaning
  mean
  intend
  say
2. 1b
  to be evidence that something exists
  That dark patch means that water is coming in.
  The look on her face meant only one thing – trouble.
  Synonyms and related words
  To be a sign or symbol of something
  signify
  stand for
  symbolize
2
to intend something bad or harmful
mean someone something:
I know they didn’t mean our family any disrespect.
mean someone harm (=intend to harm them):
She had never meant him any real harm.
Synonyms and related words
To intend to do something
intend
aim
plan on
1. 2a
  to intend to do something, often something bad or wrong
  mean to do something:
  Whoops! I didn’t mean to step on your toe.
  I mean to leave that meeting with a new contract.
  Synonyms and related words
  To intend to do something
  intend
  aim
  plan on
2. 2b
  to want someone to do something, or to want something to happen to someone
  mean someone to do something:
  It was our secret – I didn’t mean you to tell him.
  We didn’t mean you to lose your job.
  Synonyms and related words
  To want something
  want
  wish
  hope
3. 2c
  to say something with a particular intention
  mean something as a joke/compliment/insult:
  Don’t be offended: she meant it as a compliment.
  Synonyms and related words
  To have a meaning
  mean
  intend
  say
3
to make something necessary, or to make it happen
something means doing something:
The new agreement means accepting lower wages.
This development could mean that the lawsuit will be dropped.
Synonyms and related words
To make something start to exist or happen
bring about
trigger
form
Synonyms and related words
To be important, or to give something importance
matter
figure
emphasize
4
to refer to someone or something when you are talking, looking, pointing etc at them
No, I don’t mean her – I mean the tall woman.
Synonyms and related words
To mention something, or to be mentioned
mention
refer to
invoke

phrases

be meant for

be meant to be

be meant to do something

(do) you mean...?

how do you mean?

I know what you mean

I mean (to say)

I see what you mean

mean anything to someone

mean business

mean nothing

mean something/everything

mean well

what do you mean?

mean

verb transitive

US /min/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	mean
he/she/it	means
present participle	meaning
past tense	meant
past participle	meant

1
to have a particular meaning
The word means something different in French.
What does “pulchritude” mean?
mean something by something:
Everything depends on what you mean by the word “free.”
Synonyms and related words
To have a meaning
mean
intend
say
1. 1a
  to communicate a particular meaning, feeling, or piece of information
  When you shake your head it usually means “no.”
  For most people, Paris means romance.
  His behavior doesn’t mean that he doesn’t like you.
  take something to mean something (=understand it to have a particular meaning):
  I took their silence to mean disapproval.
  Synonyms and related words
  To have a meaning
  mean
  intend
  say
2. 1b
  to be evidence that something exists
  That dark patch means that water is coming in.
  The look on her face meant only one thing – trouble.
  Synonyms and related words
  To be a sign or symbol of something
  signify
  indicate
  stand for
2
to intend something bad or harmful
mean someone something:
I know they didn’t mean our family any disrespect.
mean someone harm (=intend to harm them):
She had never meant him any real harm.
Synonyms and related words
To intend to do something
intend
aim
plan on
1. 2a
  to intend to do something, often something bad or wrong
  mean to do something:
  Whoops! I didn’t mean to step on your toe.
  I mean to leave that meeting with a new contract.
  Synonyms and related words
  To intend to do something
  intend
  aim
  plan on
2. 2b
  to want someone to do something, or to want something to happen to someone
  mean (for) someone to do something:
  It was our secret – I didn’t mean for you to tell him.
  We didn’t mean for you to lose your job.
  Synonyms and related words
  To want something
  want
  wish
  hope
3. 2c
  to say something with a particular intention
  mean something as a joke/compliment/insult:
  Don’t be offended: she meant it as a compliment.
  Synonyms and related words
  To have a meaning
  mean
  intend
  say
3
to make something necessary, or to make it happen
This development could mean that the lawsuit will be dropped.
something means doing something:
The new agreement means accepting lower wages.
Synonyms and related words
To make something start to exist or happen
bring about
start off
create
Synonyms and related words
To be important, or to give something importance
matter
figure
emphasize
4
to refer to someone or something when you are talking, looking, pointing, etc. at them
No, I don’t mean her; I mean the tall woman.
Synonyms and related words
To mention something, or to be mentioned
mention
refer to
invoke

phrases

be meant for

be meant to be

be meant to do something

(do) you mean...?

I know what you mean

I mean (to say)

I see what you mean

mean anything to someone

mean business

mean nothing

mean something/everything

mean well

what do you mean?

mean ​‌‌

have a mean streak

mean ​‌‌

have a mean streak

mean

mean

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mean ​‌‌‌

mean

mean

mean

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