English-Thai Dictionary

mean

ADJ ทรุดโทรม  สกปรก  ซอมซ่อ  ขะ มุ กข มอม  shabby

 

mean

ADJ ใจร้าย  ใจดำ  โหดร้าย  ใจแคบ  เลวทราม  base ignoble small-minded

 

mean

N ค่าเฉลี่ย  ตัวกลาง  มัชฌิม  average middle median midpoint

 

mean

VI ตั้งใจ  มุ่งหมาย 

 

mean

VT มีความหมาย ต่อ  มีความสำคัญ ต่อ 

 

mean

VT มี เจตนา  ตั้งใจ  มุ่งหมาย  intend

 

mean

VT หมาย ความ ว่า  แปล ว่า  แสดงว่า  imply indicate denote signify

 

mean

VT หมายถึง  ทำให้เกิด ขึ้น  มีความหมาย กับ 

 

mean by

PHRV เจตนา  มุ่งหมาย  ตั้งใจ ด้วย  ทำให้เกิด ด้วย  jed-ta-na

 

mean for

PHRV ตั้งใจ สำหรับ  มุ่ง สำหรับ  tang-jai-sam-rab

 

mean to

PHRV มีความหมาย ต่อ  มีความสำคัญ ต่อ  me-kwam-mai-tor

 

mean well

IDM มี เจตนา ดี  me-jed-ta-na-de

 

mean well

PHRV เจตนา ดี (แต่ มัก ไม่ เป็นไปตาม นั้น  jed-ta-na-de

 

meander

N การ เดินเล่น  การ เดิน เรื่อยเปื่อย  stroll tramp kan-doen-lean

 

meander

N ทาง วกเวียน ไปมา  ทาง คดเคี้ยว  tang-wok-pai-wian-ma

 

meander

VI(แม่น้ำ  ไหล คดเคี้ยว  ลดเลี้ยว  คดเคี้ยว  recoil change twine lai-kod-kiao

 

meander

VI เดิน เรื่อยเปื่อย  เดินเล่น  เดิน ไป ช้าๆ อย่าง ไร้จุดหมาย  เดิน เตร็ดเตร่  roam twist drift doen-ruai-puai

 

meanderings

N การ พูด หรือ เดิน วกเวียน ไปมา  rambling nomadic kan-phud-doen-wok-wian-pai-ma

 

meandrous

ADJ ซึ่ง วกเวียน  ซึ่ง คดเคี้ยว  sueng-wok-wian

 

meaning

N ความสำคัญ ของ ความรู้สึก หรือ ประสบการณ์  kwam-sam-kan-kong-ru-suek-lea-par-sob-kan

 

meaning

N ความหมาย  significant sense kwam-mai

 

meaning

N จุดประสงค์  เป้าหมาย  สิ่ง ที่ตั้ง ใจ จะ พูด หรือ บอก  purpose aim design goal jud-pra-song

 

meaningful

ADJ ซึ่ง มีความหมาย  สำคัญ  significant great insignificant unimportant sueng-me-kwam-mai

 

meaningfully

ADV อย่าง มีความหมาย  significantly yang-me-kwam-mai

 

meaningfulness

N การ มีความหมาย  kan-me-kwam-mai

 

meaningless

ADJ ซึ่ง ไร้ ความหมาย  insignificant vague unimportant suang-rai-kwam-mai

 

meaninglessly

ADV อย่างไร้ ความหมาย  yang-rai-kwam-mai

 

meaninglessness

N การ ไร้ ความหมาย  futility kan-rai-kwam-mai

 

meaningly

ADV อย่าง มีความหมาย  yang-me-kwam-mai

 

meanly

ADV อย่าง พอสมควร  อย่าง ปานกลาง พอดี 

 

means

N วิธี  วิธีการ  ช่องทาง  หนทาง  channel medium factor wi-te

 

means

N เงินทอง  ทรัพย์สมบัติ  ทรัพย์สิน  ความมั่งคั่ง  resources property ngen-tong

 

means test

N การ ตรวจสอบ รายได้ และ ทรัพย์สิน อย่างเป็นทางการ  kan-trud-sob-rai-dai-lea-sab-sin

 

means-test

VT ตรวจสอบ รายได้ และ ทรัพย์สิน อย่างเป็นทางการ  trud-sob-rai-dai-lea-sab-sin

 

meant

VI กริยา ช่อง ที่  2 และ  3 ของ  mean kri-ya-chong-ti-lea-kong

 

meant

VT กริยา ช่อง ที่  2 และ  3 ของ  mean kri-ya-chong-ti-lea-kong

 

meantime

ADV ในระหว่างนั้น  for the time being meanwhile nai-ra-wang-nan

 

meantime

N เวลา ในระหว่างนั้น  interim while we-la-nai-ra-wang-nan

 

meanwhile

ADV ขณะที่  ในขณะที่  ใน ระหว่าง  meantime for the time being ka-na-ti

 

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

MEAN

a.[L. communis, vulgus, minor and minuo.] 1. Wanting dignity; low in rank or birth; as a man of mean parentage, mean birth or origin.
2. Wanting dignity of mind; low minded; base; destitute of honor; spiritless.
Can you imagine I so mean could prove,
To save my life by changing of my love?
3. Contemptible; despicable.
The Roman legions and great Caesar found
Our fathers no mean foes.
4. Of little value; low in worth or estimation; worthy of little or no regard.
We fast, not to please men, nor to promote any mean worldly interest.
5. Of little value; humble; poor; as a mean abode; a mean dress.

 

MEAN

a.[L. medium, medius. ] 1. Middle; at an equal distance from the extremes; as the means distance; the mean proportion between quantities; the mean ratio.
According to the fittest style of lofty, mean, or lowly.
2. Intervening; intermediate; coming between; as in the mean time or while.

 

MEAN

n.The middle point or place; the middle rate or degree; mediocrity; medium. Observe the golden mean. There is a mean in all things.
But no authority of gods or men
Allow of any mean in poesy.
1. Intervening time; interval of time; interim; meantime.
And in the mean, vouchsafe her honorable tomb.
Here is an omission of time or while.
2. Measure; regulation. [Not in use. ]
3. Instrument; that which is used to effect an object; the medium through which something is done.
The virtuous conversation of christians was a mean to work the conversion of the heathen to Christ.
In this sense, means, in the plural, is generally used, and often with a definitive and verb in the singular.
By this means he had them more at vantage.
A good character, when established, should not be rested on as an end, but employed as a means of doing good.
4. Means, in the plural, income, revenue, resources, substance or estate, considered as the instrument of effecting any purpose. He would have built a house, but he wanted means.
Your means are slender.
5. Instrument of action or performance.
By all means, without fail. Go, by all means.
By no means, not at all; certainly not; not in any degree.
The wine on this side of the lake is by no means so good as that on the other.
By no manner of means, by no means; not the least.
By any means, possibly; at all.
If by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead. Philippians 3:11.
Meantime, Meanwhile, in the intervening time. [In this use of these words there is an omission of in or in the; in the meantime. ]

 

MEAN

v.t.pret. and pp. meant; pronounced ment. [L. mens; Eng. mind; L. intendo, propono.] 1. To have in the mind, view or contemplation; to intend.
What mean you by this service? Exodus 12:26.
2. To intend; to purpose; to design, with reference to a future act.
Ye thought evil against me, but God meant it for good. Genesis 5 :2 .
3. To signify; to indicate.
What mean these seven ewe lambs? Genesis 21:29.
What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? 1 Samuel 4:6.
Go ye, and learn what that meaneth-- Matthew 9:13.

 

MEAN

v.i.To have thought or ideas; or to have meaning.

 

MEANDER

n.[the name of a winding river in Phrygia. ] 1. A winding course; a winding or turning in a passage; as the meanders of the veins and arteries.
While lingering rivers in meanders glide.
2. A maze; a labyrinth; perplexity; as the meanders of the law.

 

MEANDER

v.t.To wind, turn or flow round; to make flexuous.

 

MEANDER

v.i.To wind or turn in a course or passage; to be intricate.

 

MEANDERING

ppr. or a.Winding in a course, passage or current.

 

MEANDRIAN

a.Winding; having many turns.

 

MEANING

ppr. Having in mind; intending; signifying.

 

MEANING

n.That which exists in the mind, view or contemplation as a settled aim or purpose, though not directly expressed. We say, this or that is not his meaning. 1. Intention; purpose; aim; with reference to a future act.
I am no honest man, if there by any good meaning towards you.
2. Signification. What is the meaning of all this parade? The meaning of a hieroglyphic is not always obvious.
3. The sense of words or expressions; that which is to be understood; signification; that which the writer or speaker intends to express or communicate. Words have a literal meaning, or a metaphorical meaning, and it is not always easy to ascertain the real meaning.
4. Sense; power of thinking. [Little used. ]

 

MEANLY

adv. [See Mean. ] Moderately; not in a great degree. In the reign of Domitian, poetry was meanly cultivated. [Not used. ]
1. Without dignity or rank; in a low condition; as meanly born.
2. Poorly; as meanly dressed.
3. Without greatness or elevation of mind; without honor; with a low mind or narrow views. He meanly declines to fulfill his promise.
Would you meanly thus rely
On power, you know, I must obey?
4. Without respect; disrespectfully. We cannot bear to hear others speak meanly of our kindred.

 

MEANNESS

n.Want of dignity or rank; low state; as meanness of birth or condition. Poverty is not always meanness; it may be connected with it, but men of dignified minds and manners are often poor. 1. Want of excellence of any kind; poorness; rudeness.
This figure is of a later date, by the meanness of the workmanship.
2. Lowness of mind; want of dignity and elevation; want of honor. Meanness in men incurs contempt. All dishonesty is meanness.
3. Sordidness; niggardliness; opposed to liberality or charitableness. Meanness is very different from frugality.
4. Want of richness; poorness; as the meanness of dress or equipage.

 

MEANT

pret. and pp. of mean.

 

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

MEAN

Mean, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Meant; p. pr. & vb. n. Meaning. ] Etym: [OE. menen, AS. mænan to recite, tell, intend, wish; akin to OS. menian to have in mind, mean, D. meenen, G. meinen, OHG. meinan, Icel. meina, Sw. mena, Dan. mene, and to E. mind. Mind, and cf. Moan. ]

 

1. To have in the mind, as a purpose, intention, etc. ; to intend; to purpose; to design; as, what do you mean to do What mean ye by this service Ex. xii. 26. Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good. Gen. 1. 2 .I am not a Spaniard To say that it is yours and not to mean it. Longfellow.

 

2. To signify; to indicate; to import; to denote. What mean these seven ewe lambs Gen. xxi. 29. Go ye, and learn what that me. Matt. ix. 13.

 

MEAN

MEAN Mean, v. i.

 

Defn: To have a purpose or intention. [Rare, except in the phrase to mean well, or ill. ] Shak.

 

MEAN

Mean, a. [Compar. Meaner; superl. Meanest.] Etym: [OE. mene, AS. m wicked; akin to man, a., wicked, n., wickedness, OS. m wickedness, OHG. mein, G. meineid perjury, Icel. mein harm, hurt, and perh. to AS. gem common, general, D. gemeen, G. gemein, Goth. gamáins, and L. communis. The AS. gem prob. influenced the meaning. ]

 

1. Destitute of distinction or eminence; common; low; vulgar; humble. "Of mean parentage. " Sir P. Sidney. The mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself. Is. ii. 9.

 

2. Wanting dignity of mind; low-minded; base; destitute of honor; spiritless; as, a mean motive. Can you imagine I so mean could prove, To save my life by changing of my love Dryden.

 

3. Of little value or account; worthy of little or no regard; contemptible; despicable. The Roman legions and great Cæsar found Our fathers no mean foes. J. Philips.

 

4. Of poor quality; as, mean fare.

 

5. Penurious; stingy; close-fisted; illiberal; as, mean hospitality.

 

Note: Mean is sometimes used in the formation of compounds, the sense of which is obvious without explanation; as, meanborn, mean-looking, etc.

 

Syn. -- Base; ignoble; abject; beggarly; wretched; degraded; degenerate; vulgar; vile; servile; menial; spiritless; groveling; slavish; dishonorable; disgraceful; shameful; despicable; contemptible; paltry; sordid. See Base.

 

MEAN

Mean, a. Etym: [OE. mene, OF. meiien, F. moyen, fr. L. medianus that is in the middle, fr. medius; akin to E. mid. See Mid. ]

 

1. Occupying a middle position; middle; being about midway between extremes. Being of middle age and a mean stature. Sir. P. Sidney.

 

2. Intermediate in excellence of any kind. According to the fittest style of lofty, mean, or lowly. Milton.

 

3. (Math. )

 

Defn: 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. Mean distance (of a planet from the sun ) (Astron.), the average of the distances throughout one revolution of the planet, equivalent to the semi-major axis of the orbit. -- Mean error (Math. Phys. ), the average error of a number of observations found by taking the mean value of the positive and negative errors without regard to sign. -- Mean-square error, or Error of the mean square (Math. Phys. ), the error the square of which is the mean of the squares of all the errors; -- called also, especially by European writers, mean error. -- Mean line. (Crystallog.) Same as Bisectrix. -- Mean noon, noon as determined by mean time. -- Mean proportional (between two numbers ) (Math. ), the square root of their product. -- Mean sun, a fictitious sun supposed to move uniformly in the equator so as to be on the meridian each day at mean noon. -- Mean time, time as measured by an equable motion, as of a perfect clock, or as reckoned on the supposition that all the days of the year are of a mean or uniform length, in contradistinction from apparent time, or that actually indicated by the sun, and from sidereal time, or that measured by the stars.

 

MEAN

MEAN Mean, n.

 

1. 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. But to speak in a mean, the virtue of prosperity is temperance; the virtue of adversity is fortitude. Bacon. There is a mean in all things. Dryden. The extremes we have mentioned, between which the wellinstracted Christian holds the mean, are correlatives. I. Taylor.

 

2. (Math. )

 

Defn: 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.

 

3. 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. Their virtuous conversation was a mean to work the conversion of the heathen to Christ. Hooker. You may be able, by this mean, to review your own scientific acquirements. Coleridge. Philosophical doubt is not an end, but a mean. Sir W. Hamilton.

 

Note: In this sense the word is usually employed in the plural form means, and often with a singular attribute or predicate, as if a singular noun. By this means he had them more at vantage. Bacon. What other means is left unto us. Shak.

 

4. pl.

 

Defn: 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. Your means are very slender, and your waste is great. Shak.

 

5. (Mus. )

 

Defn: A part, whether alto or tenor, intermediate between the soprano and base; a middle part. [Obs. ] The mean is drowned with your unruly base. Shak.

 

6. Meantime; meanwhile. [Obs. ] Spenser.

 

7. A mediator; a go-between. [Obs. ] Piers Plowman. He wooeth her by means and by brokage. Chaucer. By all means, certainly; without fail; as, go, by all means. -- By any means, in any way; possibly; at all. If by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead. Phil. iii. ll. -- By no means, or By no manner of means, not at all; certainly not; not in any degree. The wine on this side of the lake is by no means so good as that on the other. Addison.

 

MEANDER

Me *an "der, n. Etym: [L. Maeander, orig. , a river in Phrygia, proverbial for its many windings, Gr. méandre. ]

 

1. A winding, crooked, or involved course; as, the meanders of the veins and arteries. Sir M. Hale. While lingering rivers in meanders glide. Sir R. Blackmore.

 

2. A tortuous or intricate movement.

 

3. (Arch. )

 

Defn: Fretwork. See Fret.

 

MEANDER

MEANDER Me *an "der, v. t.

 

Defn: To wind, turn, or twist; to make flexuous. Dryton.

 

MEANDER

Me *an "der, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Meandered; p. pr. & vb. n.Meandering. ]

 

Defn: To wind or turn in a course or passage; to be intricate. Five miles meandering with a mazy motion Through wood and dale the sacred river ran. Coleridge.

 

MEANDRIAN

Me *an "dri *an, a. Etym: [L. Maeandrius: cf. F. méandrien.]

 

Defn: Winding; having many turns.

 

MEANDRINA

Me `an *dri "na, n. Etym: [NL. : cf. F. méandrine.] (Zoöl.)

 

Defn: A genus of corals with meandering grooves and ridges, including the brain corals.

 

MEANDROUS; MEANDRY

MEANDROUS; MEANDRY Me *an "drous, Me *an "dry, a.

 

Defn: Winding; flexuous.

 

MEANING

MEANING Mean "ing, n.

 

1. That which is meant or intended; intent; purpose; aim; object; as, a mischievous meaning was apparent. If there be any good meaning towards you. Shak.

 

2. That which is signified, whether by act lanquage; signification; sence; import; as, the meaning of a hint.

 

3. Sense; power of thinking. [R.] -- Mean "ing *less, a. -- Mean "ing *ly, adv.

 

MEANLY

Mean "ly, adv. Etym: [Mean middle. ]

 

Defn: Moderately. [Obs. ] A man meanly learned himself, but not meanly affectioned to set forward learning in others. Ascham.

 

MEANLY

Mean "ly, adv. Etym: [From Mean low. ]

 

Defn: In a mean manner; unworthily; basely; poorly; ungenerously. While the heaven-born child All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies. Milton. Would you meanly thus rely On power you know I must obey Prior. We can not bear to have others think meanly of them [our kindred ]. I. Watts.

 

MEANNESS

MEANNESS Mean "ness, n.

 

1. The condition, or quality, of being mean; want of excellence; poorness; lowness; baseness; sordidness; stinginess. This figure is of a later date, by the meanness of the workmanship. Addison.

 

2. A mean act; as, to be guilty of meanness. Goldsmith.

 

MEAN-SPIRITED

MEAN-SPIRITED Mean "-spir `it *ed, a.

 

Defn: Of a mean spirit; base; groveling. -- Mean "-spir `it *ed *ness, n.

 

MEANT

MEANT Meant, imp. & p. p.

 

Defn: of Mean.

 

MEANTIME; MEANWHILE

MEANTIME; MEANWHILE Mean "time `, Mean "while `, n.

 

Defn: The intervening time; as, in the meantime (or mean time ).

 

MEANTIME; MEANWHILE

MEANTIME; MEANWHILE Mean "time `, Mean "while `, adv.

 

Defn: In the intervening time; during the interval.

 

New American Oxford Dictionary

mean

mean 1 |mēn min | ▶verb ( past and past participle meant |ment | ) [ with obj. ] 1 intend to convey, indicate, or refer to (a particular thing or notion ); signify: I don't know what you mean | he was asked to clarify what his remarks meant | I meant you, not Jones. • (of a word ) have (something ) as its signification in the same language or its equivalent in another language: its name means “painted rock ” in Cherokee. • genuinely intend to convey or express (something ): when she said that before, she meant it. • (mean something to ) be of some specified importance to (someone ), esp. as a source of benefit or object of affection: animals have always meant more to him than people. 2 intend (something ) to occur or be the case: they mean no harm | [ with infinitive ] : it was meant to be a secret. • (be meant to do something ) be supposed or intended to do something: we were meant to go over yesterday. • (often be meant for ) design or destine for a particular purpose: the jacket was meant for a much larger person. • (mean something by ) have as a motive or excuse in explanation: what do you mean by leaving me out here in the cold? 3 have as a consequence or result: the proposals are likely to mean another hundred closures | [ with clause ] : heavy rain meant that the ground was waterlogged. • necessarily or usually entail or involve: coal stoves mean a lot of smoke. PHRASES I mean used to clarify or correct a statement or to introduce a justification or explanation: I mean, it's not as if I owned property. mean business be in earnest. mean to say [ usu. in questions ] really admit or intend to say: do you mean to say you've uncovered something new? mean well have good intentions, but not always the ability to carry them out. ORIGIN Old English mænan; related to Dutch meenen and German meinen, from an Indo-European root shared by mind .

 

mean

mean 2 |min mēn | ▶adjective 1 unwilling to give or share things, esp. money; not generous: she felt mean not giving a tip | they're not mean with the garlic. 2 unkind, spiteful, or unfair: it was very mean of me | she is always mean to my little brother. • vicious or aggressive in behavior: the dogs were considered mean. 3 (esp. of a place ) poor in quality and appearance; shabby: her home was mean and small. • (of a person's mental capacity or understanding ) inferior; poor: it was obvious to even the meanest intelligence. • dated of low birth or social class: it was a hat like that worn by the meanest of people. 4 informal excellent; very skillful or effective: he's a mean cook | she dances a mean Charleston. PHRASES no mean —— denoting something very good of its kind: it was no mean feat. DERIVATIVES mean ly adverb ORIGIN Middle English, shortening of Old English gemǣne, of Germanic origin, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin communis ‘common. ’ The original sense was ‘common to two or more persons, ’ later ‘inferior in rank, ’ leading to sense 3 and a sense ‘ignoble, small-minded, ’ from which sense 1 and sense 2 (which became common in the 19th cent. ) arose.

 

mean

mean 3 |min mēn | ▶noun 1 the quotient of the sum of several quantities and their number; an average: acid output was calculated by taking the mean of all three samples. See also arithmetic mean, geometric mean. • the term or one of the terms midway between the first and last terms of a progression. 2 a condition, quality, or course of action equally removed from two opposite (usually unsatisfactory ) extremes: the mean between two extremes. ▶adjective [ attrib. ] 1 (of a quantity ) calculated as a mean; average: by 1989, the mean age at marriage stood at 24.8 for women and 26.9 for men. 2 equally far from two extremes: hope is the mean virtue between despair and presumption. ORIGIN Middle English: from Old French meien, from Latin medianus ‘middle ’ (see median ).

 

mean anomaly

mean a nom a ly ▶noun Astronomy the angle in an imaginary circular orbit corresponding to a planet's eccentric anomaly.

 

meander

me an der |mēˈandər miˈændər | ▶verb [ no obj. ] (of a river or road ) follow a winding course: a river that meandered gently through a meadow. • (of a person ) wander at random: kids meandered in and out. • (of a speaker or text ) proceed aimlessly or with little purpose: a stylish offbeat thriller which occasionally meanders. ▶noun (usu. meanders ) a winding curve or bend of a river or road: the river flows in sweeping meanders. • [ in sing. ] a circuitous journey, esp. an aimless one: a leisurely meander around the twisting coastline road. • an ornamental pattern of winding or interlocking lines, e.g., in a mosaic. ORIGIN late 16th cent. (as a noun ): from Latin maeander, from Greek Maiandros, the name of a river (see Menderes ).

 

meandering

me an der ing |mēˈandəriNG miˈændərɪŋ | ▶adjective following a winding course: a meandering lane. • proceeding in a convoluted or undirected fashion: a brilliant sample of meandering discourse | a florid and rather meandering melody. ▶noun (usu. meanderings ) an act of following a winding course: oxbow lagoons left by the river's meanderings. • an act of wandering in a leisurely or aimless manner: in the course of his meanderings through the city. • convoluted or undirected thought or language: he has a penchant for obscure verbal meanderings.

 

mean free path

mean free path ▶noun Physics the average distance traveled by a gas molecule or other particle between collisions with other particles.

 

meanie

mean ie |ˈmēnē ˈmini |(also meany ) ▶noun ( pl. meanies ) informal a mean or small-minded person.

 

meaning

mean ing |ˈmēniNG ˈminɪŋ | ▶noun what is meant by a word, text, concept, or action: the meaning of the word “supermarket ” | it was as if time had lost all meaning. • implied or explicit significance: he gave me a look full of meaning. • important or worthwhile quality; purpose: this can lead to new meaning in the life of older people. ▶adjective [ attrib. ] intended to communicate something that is not directly expressed: she gave Gabriel a meaning look. PHRASES not know the meaning of the word informal behave as if unaware of the concept referred to or implied: “Humanity? ” You don't know the meaning of the word! DERIVATIVES mean ing ly adverb ORIGIN late Middle English: verbal noun from mean 1 .

 

meaningful

mean ing ful |ˈmēniNGfəl ˈminɪŋfəl | ▶adjective having meaning: meaningful elements in a language | questions that are meaningful to students. • having a serious, important, or useful quality or purpose: making our lives rich and meaningful. • communicating something that is not directly expressed: meaningful glances and repressed passion. • Logic having a recognizable function in a logical language or other sign system. DERIVATIVES mean ing ful ly adverb, mean ing ful ness noun

 

meaningless

mean ing less |ˈmēniNGlis ˈminɪŋlɪs | ▶adjective having no meaning or significance: the paragraph was a jumble of meaningless words. • having no purpose or reason: the Great War was an outstanding example of meaningless conflict | rules are meaningless to a child if they do not have a rationale. DERIVATIVES mean ing less ly adverb, mean ing less ness noun

 

meanness

mean ness |ˈmēnˈnis | ▶noun 1 unkindness, spitefulness, or unfairness: all the hatred and meanness, despair and sorrow surrounding us. • aggressive character; viciousness: he is also callous, with a streak of meanness. 2 lack of quality or attractiveness; shabbiness: the meanness of that existence.

 

means

means |mēnz minz | ▶plural noun 1 [ usu. treated as sing. ] (often means of something or means to do something ) an action or system by which a result is brought about; a method: these pledges are a means to avoid prosecution | resolving disputes by peaceful means. 2 money; financial resources: a woman of modest but independent means | prospective students without the means to attend Cornell. • resources; capability: every country in the world has the means to make ethanol. • wealth: a man of means. PHRASES beyond (or within ) one's means beyond (or within ) one's budget or income: the government is living beyond its means. by all means of course; certainly (granting a permission ): “May I make a suggestion? ” “By all means. ” by any means (or by any manner of means ) (following a negative ) in any way; at all: I'm not poor by any means. by means of with the help or agency of: supplying water to cities by means of aqueducts. by no means (or by no manner of means ) not at all; certainly not: the outcome is by no means guaranteed. a means to an end a thing that is not valued or important in itself but is useful in achieving an aim: a computer is merely a means to an end. ORIGIN late Middle English: plural of mean 3, the early sense being ‘intermediary. ’

 

mean sea level

mean sea lev el ▶noun the sea level halfway between the mean levels of high and low water.

 

means of production

means of production ▶noun (esp. in a political context ) the facilities and resources for producing goods: in this society, the means of production are communally owned.

 

mean solar day

mean so lar day ▶noun Astronomy the time between successive passages of the mean sun across the meridian.

 

mean solar time

mean so lar time ▶noun Astronomy time as calculated by the motion of the mean sun. The time shown by an ordinary clock corresponds to mean solar time. Compare with apparent solar time.

 

mean-spirited

mean-spir it ed ▶adjective unkind and ungenerous; unwilling to help others: the voice of an intolerant scold, narrow and shrill and mean-spirited.

 

means test

means test |ˈminz ˌtɛst | ▶noun an official investigation into someone's financial circumstances to determine whether they are eligible for a welfare payment or other public funds. ▶verb ( means-test ) [ with obj. ] (usu. as adj. means-tested ) make (a welfare payment, etc. ) conditional on a means test: means-tested benefits. • subject (someone ) to a means test.

 

mean streets

mean streets |miːnˈstriːts | ▶plural noun an area of a city where the poor or socially deprived live or work, or an area that is noted for violence and crime: the mean streets of the South Bronx.

 

mean sun

mean sun ▶noun an imaginary sun conceived as moving through the sky throughout the year at a constant speed equal to the mean rate of the real sun, used in calculating mean solar time.

 

meant

meant |ment mɛnt | past and past participle of mean 1.

 

meantime

mean time |ˈmēnˌtīm ˈminˌtaɪm | ▶adverb (also in the meantime ) meanwhile: in the meantime, I'll make some inquiries of my own | Mom and Dad, meantime, had learned to confront their differences. ORIGIN Middle English (as a noun ): from mean 3 + time .

 

mean time

mean time ▶noun another term for mean solar time. See also Greenwich Mean Time.

 

meanwhile

mean while |ˈmēnˌ (h )wīl ˈminˌ (h )waɪl | ▶adverb (also in the meanwhile ) in the intervening period of time: Julie has meanwhile found herself another dancing partner. • at the same time: steam for another five minutes; meanwhile, make a white sauce. ORIGIN late Middle English: from mean 3 + while .

 

meany

mean y |ˈmēnē ˈmini | ▶noun variant spelling of meanie.

 

Meany, George

Mea ny, George |ˈmēnē ˈmini | (1894 –1980 ), US labor leader. He served as president of the AFL-CIO 1955 –79.

 

Oxford Dictionary

mean

mean 1 |miːn | ▶verb ( past and past participle meant |mɛnt | ) [ with obj. ] 1 intend to convey or refer to (a particular thing ); signify: I don't know what you mean | he was asked to clarify what his remarks meant | I meant you, not Jones. • (of a word ) have (something ) as its signification in the same language or its equivalent in another language: its name means ‘painted rock ’ in Cherokee. • genuinely intend to express (something ): when she said that she meant it. • (mean something to ) be of a specified degree of importance to (someone ): animals have always meant more to him than people. 2 intend (something ) to occur or be the case: they mean no harm | [ with infinitive ] : it was meant to be a secret. • (be meant to do something ) be supposed to do something: we were meant to go over yesterday. • (often be meant for ) design or destine for a particular purpose: the jacket was meant for a much larger person. • (mean something by ) have something as a motive or explanation in saying or doing: what do you mean by leaving me out here in the cold? • (be meant to be ) be generally considered to be: this one's meant to be priceless. 3 have as a consequence or result: the proposals are likely to mean another hundred closures | [ with clause ] : heavy rain meant that the pitch was waterlogged. • necessarily or usually entail or involve: coal stoves mean a lot of smoke. PHRASES I mean used to explain or correct a statement: I mean, it's not as if I owned property. mean business be in earnest. mean to say [ usu. in questions ] used to emphasize a statement or to ask another if they really intend to say something: do you mean to say you've uncovered something new? mean well have good intentions, but not always the ability to carry them out. ORIGIN Old English mænan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch meenen and German meinen, from an Indo-European root shared by mind .

 

mean

mean 2 |miːn | ▶adjective 1 chiefly Brit. unwilling to give or share things, especially money; not generous: she felt mean not giving a tip | they're not mean with the garlic. 2 unkind, spiteful, or unfair: I was mean to them over the festive season. • N. Amer. vicious or aggressive in behaviour: the dogs were considered mean, vicious, and a threat. 3 (especially of a place ) poor in quality and appearance; shabby: her home was mean and small. • (of a person's mental capacity or understanding ) inferior: it was obvious to even the meanest intelligence. • dated of low birth or social class: a muffler like that worn by the meanest of people. 4 informal very skilful or effective; excellent: he's a mean cook | she dances a mean tango. PHRASES mean streets used in reference to a socially deprived area of a city, or one which is noted for violence and crime. no mean —— denoting something very good of its kind: a profit that crossed the £100 million barrier was no mean achievement. DERIVATIVES meanly adverb ORIGIN Middle English, shortening of Old English gemǣne, of Germanic origin, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin communis ‘common ’. The original sense was ‘common to two or more people ’, later ‘inferior in rank ’, leading to sense 3 and a sense ‘ignoble, small-minded ’, from which sense 1 and sense 2 (which became common in the 19th cent. ) arose.

 

mean

mean 3 |miːn | ▶noun 1 the quotient of the sum of several quantities and their number; an average: acid output was calculated by taking the mean of all three samples. See also arithmetic mean, geometric mean. 2 a condition, quality, or course of action equally removed from two opposite extremes: the measure expresses a mean between saving and splashing out. ▶adjective [ attrib. ] 1 (of a quantity ) calculated as a mean; average: participants in the study had a mean age of 35 years. 2 equally far from two extremes: hope is the mean virtue between despair and presumption. ORIGIN Middle English: from Old French meien, from Latin medianus ‘middle ’ (see median ).

 

mean anomaly

mean anom |aly ▶noun Astronomy the angle in an imaginary circular orbit corresponding to a planet's eccentric anomaly.

 

meander

meander |mɪˈandə | ▶verb [ no obj., with adverbial of direction ] (of a river or road ) follow a winding course: a river that meandered gently through a meadow. • wander at random: kids meandered in and out. • [ no obj. ] (of language, thought, etc. ) proceed aimlessly or with little purpose: a stylish offbeat thriller which occasionally meanders. ▶noun (usu. meanders ) a winding curve or bend of a river or road: the river flows in sweeping meanders. • [ in sing. ] an indirect or aimless journey: a leisurely meander round the twisting coastline road. • an ornamental pattern of winding or interlocking lines. ORIGIN late 16th cent. (as a noun ): from Latin maeander, from Greek Maiandros, the name of a river (see Menderes ).

 

meandering

me |ander |ing |miˈandərɪŋ | ▶adjective following a winding course: meandering rivers flow at vastly different rates. • proceeding in a convoluted or undirected fashion: a brilliant sample of meandering discourse | a florid and rather meandering melody. ▶noun (usu. meanderings ) an act of following a winding course: ox-bow lagoons left by the river's meanderings. • an act of wandering in a leisurely or aimless manner: in the course of his meanderings through the city. • [ mass noun ] convoluted or undirected thought or language: he has a penchant for obscure verbal meanderings.

 

mean free path

mean free path ▶noun Physics the average distance travelled by a gas molecule or other particle between collisions with other particles.

 

meanie

meanie |ˈmiːni |(also meany ) ▶noun ( pl. meanies ) informal a mean or small-minded person.

 

meaning

mean |ing |ˈmiːnɪŋ | ▶noun what is meant by a word, text, concept, or action: the meaning of the Hindu word is ‘breakthrough, release ’ | [ mass noun ] : the meaning of life. • [ mass noun ] implied or explicit significance: he gave me a look full of meaning. • [ mass noun ] important or worthwhile quality; purpose: this can lead to new meaning in the life of older people. ▶adjective [ attrib. ] intended to communicate something that is not directly expressed: she gave Gabriel a meaning look. PHRASES not know the meaning of the word informal behave as if unaware of the concept referred to: Humanity? You don't know the meaning of the word! DERIVATIVES meaningly adverb ORIGIN late Middle English: verbal noun from mean 1 .

 

meaningful

mean ¦ing |ful |ˈmiːnɪŋfʊl, -f (ə )l | ▶adjective having meaning: meaningful elements in a language | words likely to be meaningful to pupils. • serious, important, or worthwhile: the new structure would bring meaningful savings. • communicating something that is not directly expressed: meaningful glances and repressed passion. • Logic having a recognizable function in a logical language or other sign system. DERIVATIVES meaningfully adverb, meaningfulness noun

 

meaningless

mean ¦ing |less |ˈmiːnɪŋlɪs | ▶adjective having no meaning or significance: the paragraph was a jumble of meaningless words. • having no purpose or reason: they'd rather live by begging than get a meaningless job | rules are meaningless to a child if they do not have a rationale. DERIVATIVES meaninglessly adverb, meaninglessness noun

 

meanness

mean |ness |ˈmiːnnɪs | ▶noun [ mass noun ] 1 chiefly Brit. lack of generosity; miserliness. 2 unkindness, spitefulness, or unfairness: all the hatred and meanness, despair and sorrow surrounding us. • N. Amer. aggressive character; viciousness: he is also callous, with a streak of meanness. 3 lack of quality or attractiveness; shabbiness: the meanness of that existence.

 

means

means |miːnz | ▶plural noun 1 [ treated as sing. or pl. ] (often means of /to do something ) an action or system by which a result is achieved; a method: technology seen as a means to bring about emancipation | resolving disputes by peaceful means. 2 financial resources; income: a woman of modest but independent means. • substantial resources; wealth: a man of means. PHRASES beyond (or within ) one's means beyond (or within ) one's budget or income. by all means of course; certainly (granting a permission ): ‘May I make a suggestion? ’ ‘By all means. ’. by any means [ with negative ] in any way; at all: I'm not poor by any means. by means of with the help of; by using: supplying water to cities by means of aqueducts. by no means (or by no manner of means ) not at all; certainly not: the outcome is by no means guaranteed. means of grace Christian Theology the sacraments and other religious agencies viewed as the means by which divine grace is imparted to the soul, or by which growth in grace is promoted. means of production (in a political context ) the facilities and resources for producing goods. a means to an end a thing that is not valued or important in itself but is useful in achieving an aim: higher education was seen primarily as a means to an end. ORIGIN late Middle English: plural of mean 3, the early sense being ‘intermediary ’.

 

mean sea level

mean sea level ▶noun the sea level halfway between the mean levels of high and low water.

 

mean solar day

mean solar day ▶noun Astronomy the time between successive passages of the mean sun across the meridian.

 

mean solar time

mean solar time ▶noun [ mass noun ] Astronomy time as calculated by the motion of the mean sun (such as is shown by an ordinary clock ).

 

mean-spirited

mean-spir it ed ▶adjective unkind and ungenerous; unwilling to help others: the voice of an intolerant scold, narrow and shrill and mean-spirited.

 

means test

means test ▶noun an official investigation into a person's financial circumstances to determine their eligibility for state assistance. ▶verb ( means-test ) [ with obj. ] (usu. as adj. means-tested ) make (a state benefit ) conditional on a means test: means-tested benefits. • subject (someone ) to a means test.

 

mean sun

mean sun ▶noun an imaginary sun conceived as moving through the sky throughout the year at a constant speed equal to the mean rate of the real sun, used in calculating solar time.

 

meant

meant |mɛnt | past and past participle of mean 1.

 

meantime

mean |time |ˈmiːntʌɪm | ▶adverb (also in the meantime ) meanwhile: in the meantime I'll make some enquiries of my own | Scotland, meantime, had her own monarchs. ORIGIN Middle English (as a noun ): from mean 3 + time .

 

mean time

mean time ▶noun another term for mean solar time. See also Greenwich Mean Time.

 

meanwhile

mean |while |ˈmiːnwʌɪl | ▶adverb 1 (also in the meanwhile ) in the intervening period of time: meanwhile, I will give you a prescription for some pills. • at the same time: steam for a further five minutes; meanwhile, make a white sauce. 2 on the other hand: he has said little, meanwhile, about how he plans to live his life. ORIGIN late Middle English: from mean 3 + while .

 

meany

meany ▶noun variant spelling of meanie.

 

Meany, George

Mea ny, George |ˈmēnē ˈmini | (1894 –1980 ), US labor leader. He served as president of the AFL-CIO 1955 –79.

 

American Oxford Thesaurus

mean

mean 1 verb 1 flashing lights mean the road is blocked: signify, convey, denote, designate, indicate, connote, show, express, spell out; stand for, represent, symbolize; imply, suggest, intimate, hint at, insinuate, drive at, refer to, allude to, point to; literary betoken. 2 she didn't mean to break it: intend, aim, plan, design, have in mind, contemplate, purpose, propose, set out, aspire, desire, want, wish, expect. 3 he was hit by a bullet meant for a soldier: intend, design; destine, predestine. 4 the closures will mean a rise in unemployment: entail, involve, necessitate, lead to, result in, give rise to, bring about, cause, engender, produce. 5 this means a lot to me: matter, be important, be significant. 6 a red sky in the morning usually means rain: presage, portend, foretell, augur, promise, foreshadow, herald, signal, bode; literary betoken. CHOOSE THE RIGHT WORD See intend . These notes show fine distinctions in meaning between closely related synonyms to help you find the best word.

 

mean

mean 2 adjective 1 a mean trick: unkind, nasty, unpleasant, spiteful, malicious, unfair, cruel, shabby, foul, despicable, contemptible, obnoxious, vile, odious, loathsome, base, low; informal horrible, horrid, hateful, rotten, lowdown; beastly. ANTONYMS kind. 2 he's too mean to leave a tip: miserly, niggardly, close-fisted, parsimonious, penny-pinching, cheeseparing, Scroogelike; informal tightfisted, stingy, tight, mingy, money-grubbing, cheap; formal penurious. ANTONYMS generous, munificent. 3 the truth was obvious to even the meanest intelligence: inferior, poor, limited, restricted. 4 their mean origins: lowly, humble, ordinary, low, low-born, modest, common, base, proletarian, plebeian, obscure, ignoble, undistinguished; archaic baseborn. ANTONYMS noble. 5 informal he's a mean cook. See excellent.

 

mean

mean 3 noun a mean between frugality and miserliness: middle course, middle way, midpoint, happy medium, golden mean, compromise, balance; median, norm, average. ▶adjective the mean temperature: average, median, middle, medial, medium, normal, standard.

 

meander

meander verb 1 the river meandered gently: zigzag, wind, twist, turn, curve, curl, bend, snake. 2 we meandered along the path: stroll, saunter, amble, wander, ramble, drift, maunder; informal mosey, tootle, toodle.

 

meandering

meandering adjective 1 a meandering stream: winding, windy, zigzag, zigzagging, twisting, turning, curving, serpentine, sinuous, twisty. ANTONYMS straight. 2 meandering reminiscences: rambling, maundering, circuitous, roundabout, digressive, discursive, indirect, tortuous, convoluted. ANTONYMS succinct. WORD TOOLKIT See serpentine . Word Toolkits illustrate the difference between close synonyms by means of words typically used with them.

 

meaning

meaning noun 1 the meaning of his remark: significance, sense, signification, import, gist, thrust, drift, implication, tenor, message, essence, substance, purport, intention. 2 the word has several different meanings: definition, sense, explanation, denotation, connotation, interpretation, nuance. 3 my life has no meaning: value, validity, worth, consequence, account, use, usefulness, significance, point. 4 his smile was full of meaning: expressiveness, significance, eloquence, implications, insinuations. ▶adjective a meaning look. See meaningful (sense 3 ). WORD LINKS semantic relating to the meaning of words and sentences semantics the branch of linguistics concerned with meaning Word Links sections supply words that are related to the headword but do not normally appear in a thesaurus because they are not actual synonyms.

 

meaningful

meaningful adjective 1 a meaningful remark: significant, relevant, important, consequential, telling, material, valid, worthwhile. ANTONYMS inconsequential. 2 a meaningful relationship: sincere, deep, serious, in earnest, significant, important. 3 a meaningful glance: expressive, eloquent, pointed, significant, meaning; pregnant, speaking, telltale, revealing, suggestive, charged, loaded.

 

meaningless

meaningless adjective 1 a jumble of meaningless words: unintelligible, incomprehensible, incoherent. 2 she felt her life was meaningless: futile, pointless, aimless, empty, hollow, blank, vain, purposeless, valueless, useless, of no use, worthless, senseless, trivial, trifling, unimportant, insignificant, inconsequential. ANTONYMS worthwhile.

 

means

means plural noun 1 the best means to achieve your goal: method, way, manner, mode, measure, technique, expedient, agency, medium, instrument, channel, vehicle, avenue, course, process, procedure. 2 she doesn't have the means to support herself: money, resources, capital, income, finance, funds, cash, wherewithal, assets; informal dough, bread, moola. 3 a man of means: wealth, riches, affluence, substance, fortune, property, money, capital. PHRASES by all means by all means you must have dinner with us: of course, certainly, definitely, surely, absolutely, with pleasure; informal sure thing. by means of the load was raised by means of a crane: using, utilizing, employing, through, with the help of; as a result of, by dint of, by way of, by virtue of. by no means the result is by no means certain: not at all, in no way, not in the least, not in the slightest, not the least bit, not by a long shot, certainly not, absolutely not, definitely not, on no account, under no circumstances; informal no way.

 

meantime

meantime noun PHRASES in the meantime See meanwhile (sense 1 ).

 

meanwhile

meanwhile adverb 1 meanwhile, I'll stay here: for now, for the moment, for the present, for the time being, meantime, in the meantime, in the interim, in the interval. 2 cook for a further half hour; meanwhile, make the stuffing: at the same time, simultaneously, concurrently.

 

Oxford Thesaurus

mean

mean 1 verb 1 the flashing lights mean that the road is blocked: signify, convey, denote, designate, indicate, connote, show, express, spell out, stand for, represent, symbolize, imply, purport, suggest, allude to, intimate, hint at, insinuate, drive at, refer to; informal get at; literary betoken. 2 she didn't mean to break it: intend, aim, plan, design, have in mind, have in view, contemplate, think of, purpose, propose, have plans, set out, aspire, desire, want, wish, expect. 3 he was hit by a bullet meant for a soldier: destine, predestine, fate, preordain, ordain; intend, design. 4 the closures will mean a rise in unemployment: entail, involve, necessitate, lead to, result in, give rise to, bring about, cause, engender, produce, effect. 5 this means a lot to me: matter, have importance, have significance, be important, be significant; have an input on. 6 a red sky in the morning usually means rain: presage, portend, foretell, augur, promise, foreshadow, herald, signal, bode; rare betoken, foretoken, forebode, adumbrate.

 

mean

mean 2 adjective 1 he's too mean to leave a tip: miserly, niggardly, close-fisted, parsimonious, penny-pinching, cheese-paring, ungenerous, penurious, illiberal, close, grasping, greedy, avaricious, acquisitive, Scrooge-like; Austral. /NZ & Scottish miserable; informal tight-fisted, stingy, tight, mingy, money-grubbing, skinflinty; N. Amer. informal cheap, grabby; Austral. informal hungry; Brit. vulgar slang tight-arse, tight-arsed, tight as a duck's arse; archaic near, niggard. ANTONYMS generous, extravagant, munificent. 2 why are you being so mean to me? | that was a mean trick: unkind, nasty, spiteful, foul, malicious, malevolent, despicable, contemptible, obnoxious, vile, odious, loathsome, disagreeable, unpleasant, unfriendly, uncharitable, shabby, unfair, callous, cruel, vicious, base, low; informal horrible, horrid, hateful, rotten, low-down; Brit. informal beastly, bitchy, catty; vulgar slang shitty. ANTONYMS kind. 3 the truth was obvious to even the meanest intelligence: inferior, poor, limited, restricted, meagre. 4 her flat was mean and cold: squalid, shabby, dilapidated, sordid, seedy, slummy, sleazy, insalubrious, poor, sorry, wretched, dismal, dingy, miserable, mangy, broken-down, run down, down at heel; informal scruffy, scuzzy, crummy, grungy, ratty, tacky; Brit. informal grotty. ANTONYMS luxurious, palatial. 5 a man of mean birth: lowly, humble, ordinary, low, low-born, lower-class, modest, common, base, proletarian, plebeian, obscure, undistinguished, ignoble; archaic baseborn. ANTONYMS noble. 6 informal he's a mean cook. See excellent.

 

mean

mean 3 noun trying to find a mean between frankness and rudeness: middle course, middle way, mid point, central point, middle, happy medium, golden mean, compromise, balance, median, norm, average. ▶adjective the mean temperature: average, median, middle, halfway, centre, central, intermediate, medial, medium, normal, standard, middling.

 

meander

meander verb 1 the river meandered gently through the meadow: zigzag, wind, twist, turn, curve, curl, bend, snake. 2 we meandered along the path: stroll, saunter, amble, wander, roam, ramble, rove, drift, maunder, stray, straggle; Scottish & Irish stravaig; Irish streel; informal mosey, tootle; rare vagabond. 3 she meandered on about the difficulties: ramble, prattle, maunder, prate, blather, blether, blither, drivel, chatter, rattle, drift; Brit. informal witter, waffle, rabbit, natter. ▶noun 1 the river flows in sweeping meanders: bend, loop, curve, twist, turn, turning, coil, zigzag, oxbow, convolution; rare anfractuosity, flexuosity. 2 a leisurely meander: wander, ramble, stroll, saunter, amble; informal mosey, tootle.

 

meandering

meandering adjective 1 a meandering stream: winding, windy, zigzag, zigzagging, twisting, turning, curving, serpentine, sinuous, snaking, snaky, twisty, tortuous; rare anfractuous, flexuous, meandrous. ANTONYMS straight. 2 meandering reminiscences: rambling, circuitous, roundabout, digressive, discursive, indirect, diffuse, tortuous, convoluted; rare anfractuous. ANTONYMS succinct. WORD TOOLKIT meandering See serpentine . Word Toolkits illustrate the difference between close synonyms by means of words typically used with them.

 

meaning

meaning noun 1 the poem has a hidden meaning | I didn't understand the meaning of his remark: significance, sense, signification, import, thrust, drift, gist, implication, tenor, message, essence, substance, purport, intention. 2 the word has several different meanings: definition, sense, explanation, denotation, connotation, interpretation, elucidation, explication. 3 my life has no meaning: value, validity, worth, consequence, account, use, usefulness, significance, point. 4 his smile was full of meaning: expressiveness, significance, eloquence, implications, intimations, insinuations. ▶adjective she gave him a meaning look: meaningful, significant, pointed, eloquent, expressive, pregnant, speaking, telltale, revealing, suggestive. ANTONYMS vacant. WORD LINKS meaning semantic relating to meaning semantics study of meaning Word Links sections supply words that are related to the headword but do not normally appear in a thesaurus because they are not actual synonyms.

 

meaningful

meaningful adjective 1 a meaningful remark: significant, relevant, important, consequential, material, telling, pithy, weighty, valid, worthwhile, purposeful. ANTONYMS inconsequential. 2 a meaningful relationship: sincere, deep, serious, in earnest, significant, important. 3 a meaningful glance: expressive, eloquent, pointed, significant, meaning; deep, pregnant, speaking, telltale, revealing, suggestive. ANTONYMS meaningless.

 

meaningless

meaningless adjective 1 a meaningless statement: unintelligible, incomprehensible, incoherent, illogical, senseless, unmeaning, foolish, silly, absurd, fatuous, ridiculous, nonsensical, idle. ANTONYMS meaningful. 2 she felt her life was meaningless: futile, pointless, aimless, empty, hollow, vain, purposeless, motiveless, valueless, useless, of no use, worthless, trivial, trifling, vacuous, unimportant, insignificant, inconsequential, insubstantial, nugatory, fruitless, profitless, barren, unproductive, unprofitable. ANTONYMS worthwhile.

 

meanness

meanness noun 1 his careful attitude towards money bordered on meanness: miserliness, niggardliness, close-fistedness, parsimony, parsimoniousness, penny-pinching, cheese-paring, penury, illiberality, greed, avarice, acquisitiveness; informal stinginess, tight-fistedness, tightness, minginess; N. Amer. cheapness; archaic nearness. ANTONYMS generosity. 2 the filth and meanness of the place: squalor, squalidness, shabbiness, dilapidation, sordidness, seediness, sleaziness, insalubriousness, wretchedness, dismalness, dinginess, poverty; informal scruffiness, scuzziness, crumminess, grunginess, tackiness; Brit. informal grottiness. 3 his meanness of temper: nastiness, mean-spiritedness, spitefulness, disagreeableness, unpleasantness, unkindness.

 

means

means plural noun 1 the drugs were obtained by illegal means | modern means of communication such as television: method, way, manner, mode, measure, fashion, process, procedure, technique, expedient, agency, medium, instrument, mechanism, channel, vehicle, avenue, course. 2 she doesn't have the means to support herself: money, resources, capital, income, finance, funds, cash, the wherewithal, assets; informal dough, bread, dibs, moolah, shekels, gelt, loot, oof, scratch, splosh; Brit. informal dosh, brass, lolly, spondulicks, wonga, ackers; N. Amer. informal dineros, jack, mazuma; Austral. /NZ informal Oscar. 3 a man of means: wealth, riches, affluence, substance, fortune, property, money, capital. PHRASES by all means of course, certainly, definitely, surely, absolutely, naturally, with pleasure, assuredly; N. Amer. informal sure thing. by means of the load was raised by means of a crane: using, utilizing, employing, through, with the help of, with the aid of, as a result of, by dint of, by way of, by virtue of, via. by no means the result is by no means certain: not at all, in no way, not in the least, not in the slightest, not the least bit, not by a long shot, certainly not, absolutely not, definitely not, on no account, under no circumstances; Brit. not by a long chalk; informal no way.

 

meantime

meantime adverb See meanwhile.

 

meanwhile

meanwhile adverb 1 something will turn up —meanwhile we shall keep an eye on him: for now, for the moment, for the present, for the time being, meantime, in the meantime, in the intervening period, in the interim, in the interval, in the meanwhile, the while, temporarily; Latin pro tem, ad interim; French en attendant. 2 Moore's old club, meanwhile, are trying to persuade him to rejoin them: at the same time, simultaneously, concurrently, the while.

 

French Dictionary

méandre

méandre n. m. nom masculin 1 Suite de détours d ’un cours d ’eau, d ’un chemin. : Les multiples petits méandres de la rivière. 2 figuré Détours complexes. : Les méandres de la bureaucratie. Note Technique Attention au genre masculin de ce nom: un méandre.

 

Spanish Dictionary

meandro

meandro nombre masculino 1 Curva pronunciada que forma un río en su curso :los meandros son frecuentes en el curso medio y bajo del río .2 Línea ondulante que se usa como adorno en escultura o arquitectura :el friso estaba adornado por meandros .

 

Sanseido Wisdom Dictionary

mean

mean 1 /miːn /〖語源は 「心の中に意見を持つ 」〗(名 )meaning コーパス頻度ランク meanを含む会話での定型表現 ① I mean, …(↓成句 )② What do you mean? (↓他動詞 2 表現 第5例 )③ You know what I mean? (↓他動詞 2 表現 第3例 )④ What does that mean? (↓他動詞 2a 第4例 )⑤ I mean it .(↓他動詞 2 表現 第9例 )❢ mean は 「意味する 」が基本の 動詞 で, 会話でもよく使われる; ↓他動詞 2 表現 , 3 .動詞 ～s /-z /; meant /ment /; ～ing 他動詞 1 〈言葉 記号などが 〉…を意味する , 表す ; 〖mean (that )節 〗…ということを意味する (!進行形にしない ) ▸ “What does (the word )‘sayonara ’ mean ?” “It means ‘good-bye ’ in Japanese. ”「‘sayonara ’とは何という意味なの 」「日本語で ‘good-bye ’のことだよ 」▸ What is meant by an “expert system ”?“expert system ”とはどういう意味ですか ▸ The siren means (that ) it's time to go home .そのサイレンは帰宅時間を知らせるものだ ▸ It was a quiet trading week, meaning that not many shares were bought and sold .今週は動きのない週だった . つまりあまり多くの株が売買されなかったということだ .2 ｟主に話 ｠a. 〖mean A by B 〗B 〈言葉 〉によってAを言うつもりである ; 〖mean A (as B )〗〈人が 〉A 〈言葉など 〉を (Bのつもりで )言う ; 〖～(that )節 〗…のことを言う (!進行形にしない ) ▸ “Everything all right? ” “It depends on what you mean by all right. ”「万事順調なの 」「順調の意味によりけりだね 」▸ I meant it as a compliment .賞賛のつもりでそう言ったんです ▸ What he means is that he won't be coming back again .彼の言いたいことは, 2度と戻って来ないということだ ▸ What does that mean? それはどういう意味 [こと ]ですか (!相手の発言 言葉の真意を尋ねて ) .b. 〈人が 〉〈人 物 〉をさして言う ▸ I mean you. Stand up! 君のことを言っているんだ, 立ちなさい .表現 コーパス mean を用いた 〘話 〙の定型表現 ▸ I see what you mean , but I think we should take the chance .言いたいことはわかるけど, やっぱり, やってみるべきだよ ▸ I know what you mean .(おっしゃることは )わかります (!seeよりもknowを使うと, 相手の言う事が自分の経験からもよく理解できることを意味する ) ▸ He was my hero, (if ) you know what I mean .彼は私のヒーローだったのよ . わかるでしょ (!話さなくても理解していることを相手に確認していう ) ▸ That's what I mean! ｟話 ｠それだよ, 僕が言いたかったのは ▸ What do you mean (by that )?それはどういうことですか? (!意図がわからず質問する場合だけでなく, 相手の発言 行為に怒り 「いったい全体どういうつもりなんだ 」の意味にもなる ) ▸ What did she mean by that look [saying that ]?彼女のあの表情 [彼女がああ言ったの ]はどういうつもりだったんだろう ▸ See what I mean ? She never shows up on time .ほら私の言った通りだ . 彼女は時間通りに来たためしがない ▸ You mean he's serious? 彼は本気だって言うのね? (!このように疑問文でも文頭のdoが省略されることが多い ) ▸ I mean it . ≒I don't mean maybe .本気で言ってるんだ ▸ I didn't mean it .そんなつもりじゃなかったんだ ▸ I'm sure he meant it for the best .彼はよかれと思ってそう言ったに違いない ▸ How do you mean …?(相手の説明をうながして )…はどういうことですか?▸ “Get out! Get out! ” “You can't mean that! ”「出ていけよ 」「マジかよ 」▸ “We have only two hours left. ” “You mean …?” “I mean it's 7 o'clock. ”「2時間しか残ってないよ 」「つまりそれって?」「7時だってことさ 」 (!言い残した事を確認のため相手に言わせる ) .3 ｟主に話 ｠〖mean to do 〗…するつもりである , …しようと思う ; 〖mean (｟主に米 くだけて ｠ for ) A to do 〗A 〈人 〉に … させるつもりである ; 〖～ (that )節 〗…というつもりである ▸ I didn't mean to hurt you. ≒I didn't mean for you to be hurt .傷つけるつもりじゃなかったんです ▸ I'm sorry if I offended you. I didn't mean to .すみません . 怒らせるつもりはなかったのです (!mean toの後ろにoffend youが省略されている形 ) ▸ You mean to say [tell me ] (that ) Anne's your girlfriend? ｟話 ｠アンは君の彼女だっていうことなのかい ▸ I've been meaning to ask you .前から聞こう聞こうと思ってました .4 〖be meant for A 〗〈人 物が 〉A 〈人 目的など 〉に当てられる , 向けられる ; 〖be meant to be C 〗〈人が 〉C 〈職業 〉に向いている ; ｟主に英 ｠〖be meant to do 〗〈人が 〉…することになっている, 〈物 事が 〉…だとされている ▸ The meal was meant for another customer .その食事はもう1人の客のためのものだった ▸ Ken and Susan were meant for each other .ケンとスーザンはお似合いのカップルだった ▸ Not every woman is meant to be a mother .女性がすべて母になるように生まれついているわけではない ▸ You' re meant to take your dead batteries to a recycling center .使い切った電池はリサイクルセンターへ持ちこむことになっています .5 〖mean A /(that )節 〗A […ということ ]になる , A […ということ ]の前兆である ; 〖mean (A ) doing 〗(A 〈人 〉にとって )…する結果になる , …するということに等しい ▸ Smoking may mean health problems later .喫煙すると後年健康に害が及ぶことになるかもしれない ▸ The computer problem will mean (us ) checking everything manually .コンピュータが故障するとすべてを人手でチェックすることになる ▸ Just because it's easy for you doesn't mean it's easy for everyone .君にとって簡単だからといってみんなもそうというわけにはいかないよ (→because 接続詞 3 語法 (2 )).6 〖mean A to B 〗B 〈人 〉にとってAの意味 [重要性 ]をもつ (!進行形 受け身にしない; Aは通例a lot, more, everything, nothingなど ) ▸ Your support means a lot [a great deal ] to me .あなたの支援は私にはとても大切です ▸ Possessions mean everything [the world ] to her .彼女にとっては財産がすべてだ 7 〈行動など 〉を起こす気である ; 〖mean A B /B to A 〗A 〈人 〉にB 〈悪意など 〉を抱く [加える ]意図がある ▸ mean revenge [trouble ]仕返しする [ごたごたを起こす ]つもりだ ▸ mean A no harm mean no harm to A A 〈人 〉に悪意を抱いていない .自動詞 〖～＋副詞 〗(…の )心 [意図 ]をもっている , 心は … だ (!副詞 は様態の表現 ) .I m é an ｟話 ｠つまり ; いやその, いやそうじゃなくて (!前言を補足説明したり, 言い間違いを訂正して用いるが, 話し手によっては意味なく会話の最中に繰り返す人もいる ) ▸ The food was terrible ― I mean it wasn't even hot! 食事はひどかった ―いや, つまり温められてもいなかった ▸ He's American ― Canadian, I mean .彼はアメリカ人, いやその, カナダ人だ .I m è an to s á y ｟話 ｠もっと正確に言えば, 言い換えれば .m è an n ó thing to A 1 〈言葉などが 〉A 〈人 〉になじみがない, 理解できない .2 ↑他動詞 6 .m è an s ó mething [á nything ] to A 〈名前 言葉などが 〉A 〈人 〉になじみがある, よく知られている ▸ Does the name “Peter Fisher ” mean anything to you? ピーター フィッシャーという名前に心当たりがありますか m è an w é ll ｟話 ｠(実際の結果はともかく )よかれと思ってする [言う ], 悪意はない .

 

mean

mean 2 /miːn /〖「普通の 」＞「あまり良くない 」＞「卑劣な 」〗形容詞 ～er ; ～est 1 «…に対して » 意地の悪い , 卑劣な «to » ; 〖it is ～ of A to do 〗…するとはAは意地が悪い ▸ My brother has always been mean to me .私の兄はずっと私をひどい目に遭わせてきた .2 ｟英 ｠ «…に対して » けちな (stingy ) «with » ▸ My boss has always been mean with money .私の上司はいつもお金にけちけちしている 3 ｟主に米 ｠〈人 動物などが 〉敵意のある ; たちの悪い , 凶暴な ▸ That's a mean dog .あれはたちが悪い犬だ .4 〖no ～〗大した , すばらしい , 並々ならぬ ▸ no mean achievement [task ]すばらしい功績 [仕事 ]▸ no mean performer すばらしい演技者 .5 ｟主に米 くだけて ｠〖通例 名詞 の前で 〗非常によい , すばらしい ▸ He plays a mean guitar .彼のギターはとびきりの腕前だ .6 〈人の能力などが 〉劣った .7 ｟文 ｠〖名詞 の前で 〗〈場所などの見かけが 〉みすぼらしい , 汚い .8 ｟古 ｠身分の低い , 卑しい .9 ｟話 ｠気がひける , 恥ずかしい .10 ｟英 けなして ｠〈量が 〉ごくわずかな .

 

mean

mean 3 /miːn /〖原義は 「まん中にある (median )」〗名詞 複 ～s /-z /C 1 〖the ～〗〘数 〙平均 (値 )(average ); (比例式の )中項 .2 〖the /a ～〗【両 (極 )端の 】中間 (点 ); 中庸 «between » .3 〘論 〙中名辞 .4 〘楽 〙中音部 .形容詞 比較なし 〖名詞 の前で 〗平均の , 中間の (average )▸ the mean temperature 平均気温 .～́ t ì me 〖the ～〗＝Greenwich (Mean ) Time .

 

meander

me an der /miǽndə r / (! mean-は /miæn /) 動詞 自動詞 1 〈川 道路などが 〉曲がりくねる .2 〈人が 〉 «…を » あてもなくさまよう, ぶらぶら歩く «along , through » .3 〈話 議論などが 〉とりとめもなく続く (on ).名詞 C (川の大きな )湾曲 ; 曲がりくねった道 .

 

meandering

me á n der ing /-d (ə )rɪŋ /名詞 〖～s 〗1 曲がりくねった川 [道 ].2 あてどない散歩 ; とりとめのない話 .形容詞 曲がりくねる ; 〈話が 〉とりとめのない .～ly 副詞 曲がりくねって .

 

meanie

mean ie /míːni /名詞 C ｟主に小児 ｠1 ｟主に英 ｠けちな人, 心の狭い人 .2 ｟主に米 ｠意地悪な人 .

 

meaning

mean ing /míːnɪŋ /→mean 1 名詞 複 ～s /-z /1 C U (言葉 表現 身ぶりなどの )意味 (!辞書に見られるような客観的な 「意味 」で言葉以外にも用いる; 特定の文脈における, または受け手の主観的な解釈による 「意味 」はsense ) ▸ One word often has several meanings .1つの語にはしばしば複数の意味がある ▸ What's the meaning of this word? この言葉の意味は何ですか (≒What does this word mean? )▸ layers [shades ] of meaning 微妙な意味の違い .2 U 伝えたいこと ; 意図 , 真意 ▸ I couldn't get [catch, understand ] her meaning .彼女の言いたいことがわからなかった ▸ What's the meaning of this? ｟話 非難して ｠これはどういうつもりだ .3 U C (本 絵 映画などで )表現される考え ; 意図 ▸ Meanings given in his book are commonly accepted .彼の本で表された考えは広く受け入れられている .4 U (真の )意義, 価値 , 重要性 (significance )▸ the meaning of life 人生の意義 ▸ Time has no meaning there .そこでは時間は重要ではない ▸ Nationalism began to lose its meaning there .そこでは国家主義は重要性を失いはじめた .形容詞 1 〖複合語で 〗…のつもりの (→well-meaning ).2 ｟まれ ｠〖通例 名詞 の前で 〗意味ありげな , 意味深長な 〈表情 目つきなど 〉(meaningful ).not kn ò w the m é aning of (the w ò rd ) A A 〈事 〉を経験したことがない ; A 〈言葉 〉の意味がまだ理解できていない .

 

meaningful

mean ing ful /míːnɪŋf (ə )l /形容詞 1 〖名詞 の前で 〗意味深い, 有意義な .2 理解しやすい .3 〖名詞 の前で 〗意味深長な, 意味ありげな ▸ give a meaningful look 意味ありげな目をする .

 

meaningfully

m é an ing ful ly 副詞 わかりやすく ; 意味深長に ; 有意義に .

 

meaningless

m é an ing less 形容詞 1 目的がない ; 無益な, むだな .2 無意味な, 意味のない ; 理解し難い .～ness 名詞

 

meanly

m é an ly 副詞 1 意地悪く .2 けちけちして .

 

meanness

m é an ness 名詞 U 1 けち ; さもしさ .2 意地の悪さ .

 

means

means /miːnz /〖「中道 (mean 3 )」＞「手段 」〗名詞 複 ～C 1 〖単複両扱い 〗 «…の /…する » 手段 , 方法 «of /of do ing , to do » ▸ means of communication 伝達手段 ▸ There is [are ] no means of contacting [to contact ] her .彼女に連絡をする手立てがない ▸ Buses are an environmentally friendly means of transportation .バスは環境に優しい交通機関だ ▸ the means of production 〘経 〙生産手段 .2 〖複数扱い 〗財力 ; 富 , 財産 ; 収入 ▸ according to one's means 自分の財力に応じて ▸ live within one's means 収入の範囲内で生活する ▸ The price was far beyond the means of most families .その価格は多くの家庭の収入では高嶺 （たかね ）の花だった ▸ people [a man, a woman ] of means ｟文 ｠裕福な人々 [男性, 女性 ].a m è ans to an é nd (気乗りはしないが )目的を達成する手段 .by á ll (m à nner of ) m è ans ｟話 ｠1 いいとも ; ぜひどうぞ (yes, definitely, sure ) (!承諾 許可の返事の決まり文句 ) ; (同意して )その通り ▸ “Do you mind if I sit here? ” “By all means .”「ここに座ってかまいませんか 」「もちろん 」.2 〖文頭 文中で 〗必ず, ぜひとも ▸ You should buy this computer by all means .ぜひ君はこのコンピュータを買うべきだ .by á ny (m à nner of ) m è ans 1 〖否定文で 〗＝by no (manner of )means .2 〖疑問文で 〗どうにかして, なんとか .by m é ans of A ｟かたく ｠A 〈物 方法 〉によって, Aを用いて .by n ó (m à nner of ) m è ans ＝n ò t by á ny (m à nner of ) m è ans 1 けっして …(し )ない (not at all )▸ He is by no means a dishonest man .彼はけっして不誠実な人ではない ▸ I'm not giving up yet, not by any means .僕はまだあきらめません, 絶対に .2 〖否定の返答として 〗そんなことはありません, とんでもない .

 

mean-spirited

m è an-sp í rit ed /-ɪd /形容詞 卑劣な, 心の狭い .

 

means-test

m é ans-t è st 名詞 C ｟主に英 ｠〖通例単数形で 〗(扶養控除のための )資産調査 .動詞 他動詞 …の資産調査をする .

 

means-tested

m é ans-t è st ed /-ɪd /形容詞 ｟主に英 ｠資産調査に基づく .

 

meant

meant /ment / (! -ea-は /e /) 動詞 mean 1 の過去形 過去分詞 .

 

meantime

mean time /míːntàɪm /→mean 3 名詞 〖the ～〗その間 .for the m é antime 当分の間, 差し当たり .in the m é antime その間 (に ), そうしているうちに ; それまでは ▸ You'll be very busy tomorrow, but in the meantime , rest well .明日は忙しいですよ . だけどそれまでの間, ゆっくりお休みください .副詞 ｟くだけて ｠〖文頭で 〗＝meanwhile .

 

meanwhile

mean while /míːn (h )wàɪl /→mean 3 副詞 比較なし 〖文修飾 〗(｟くだけて ｠meantime )1 その間に , そうしている間に ; それまでの間 ▸ Bake the cake for 10 more minutes. Meanwhile , you can have a rest .ケーキをもう10分間焼いてちょうだい . その間は休んでいていいわ ▸ Textbooks will be given next week. Meanwhile , read these books .教科書は来週渡されます . それまでの間, この本を読んでいなさい .2 一方では (!同時に起こっている2つのことを対照して; on the other hand も2つの異なる状況を対比させるが 「同時性 」はない; →on the other hand 読解のポイント ) ▸ Kim went shopping. Meanwhile , John started to work in the garden .キムは買い物に行った . 一方ジョンは庭仕事を始めた .名詞 〖the ～〗＝meantime .for the m é anwhile ＝for the meantime .

 

meany

mean y /míːni /名詞 複 -ies ＝meanie .