English dictionary
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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 | ||
Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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Web design: Orcapia v/Per Bang. English edition: .
2025 onlineordbog.dk