English adjective: mean | |||
1. | mean approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value | ||
Samples | The average income in New England is below that of the nation. Of average height for his age. The mean annual rainfall. | ||
Synonyms | average | ||
Similar | normal | ||
Domain category | statistics | ||
Antonyms | abnormal, unnatural | ||
2. | mean characterized by malice | ||
Samples | A hateful thing to do. In a mean mood. | ||
Synonyms | hateful | ||
Similar | awful, nasty | ||
Antonyms | nice | ||
3. | mean having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality | ||
Samples | That liberal obedience without which your army would be a base rabble. Taking a mean advantage. Chok'd with ambition of the meaner sort. Something essentially vulgar and meanspirited in politics. | ||
Synonyms | base, meanspirited | ||
Similar | ignoble | ||
Antonyms | noble | ||
4. | mean excellent | ||
Samples | Famous for a mean backhand. | ||
Similar | skilled | ||
Domain usage | argot, cant, jargon, lingo, patois, slang, vernacular | ||
Antonyms | unskilled | ||
5. | mean marked by poverty befitting a beggar | ||
Samples | A beggarly existence in the slums. A mean hut. | ||
Synonyms | beggarly | ||
Similar | poor | ||
Antonyms | rich | ||
6. | mean (used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity | ||
Samples | A mean person. He left a miserly tip. | ||
Synonyms | mingy, miserly, tight | ||
Similar | stingy, ungenerous | ||
Antonyms | generous | ||
7. | mean (used of sums of money) so small in amount as to deserve contempt | ||
Synonyms | beggarly | ||
Similar | stingy, ungenerous | ||
Antonyms | generous | ||
8. | mean of no value or worth | ||
Samples | I was caught in the bastardly traffic. | ||
Synonyms | bastardly | ||
Similar | contemptible | ||
Antonyms | estimable | ||
English noun: mean | |||
1. | mean (cognition) an average of n numbers computed by adding some function of the numbers and dividing by some function of n | ||
Synonyms | mean value | ||
Broader (hypernym) | average, norm | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | arithmetic mean, expectation, expected value, first moment, geometric mean, harmonic mean | ||
Domain category | statistics | ||
English verb: mean | |||
1. | mean (communication) mean or intend to express or convey | ||
Samples | You never understand what I mean!. What do his words intend?. | ||
Synonyms | intend | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | convey | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | aim, aim, drive, get, import, represent, signify, spell, stand for, symbolise, symbolize, typify | ||
2. | mean (stative) have as a logical consequence | ||
Samples | The water shortage means that we have to stop taking long showers. | ||
Synonyms | entail, imply | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | necessitate | ||
3. | mean (communication) denote or connote | ||
Samples | `maison' means `house' in French. An example sentence would show what this word means. | ||
Synonyms | intend, signify, stand for | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s something | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | denote, refer | ||
Verb group | signify | ||
4. | mean (cognition) have in mind as a purpose | ||
Samples | I mean no harm. I only meant to help you. She didn't think to harm me. We thought to return early that night. | ||
Examples | They mean to move | ||
Synonyms | intend, think | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | aim, be after, design, plan, propose, purport, purpose | ||
5. | mean (stative) have a specified degree of importance | ||
Samples | My ex-husband means nothing to me. Happiness means everything. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
6. | mean (cognition) intend to refer to | ||
Samples | I'm thinking of good food when I talk about France. Yes, I meant you when I complained about people who gossip!. | ||
Synonyms | have in mind, think of | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | associate, colligate, connect, link, link up, relate, tie in | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | advert, bring up, cite, mention, name, refer | ||
7. | mean (cognition) destine or designate for a certain purpose | ||
Samples | These flowers were meant for you. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something PP | ||
Broader (hypernym) | designate, destine, intend, specify | ||