Meanings
mean1
present singular third person means · participle present meaning · participle past meant · past meant
- To intend.
- transitiveTo intend, to plan (to do); to have as one's intention.First known use 8th c.
I didn't mean to knock your tooth out.
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I mean to go to Arévalo in Spain this summer; I’ve been meaning to tell you for weeks, but I’ve just found the time.
I meant to take the car in for a smog check, but it slipped my mind.
The authors meant a challenge to the status quo.
Do you mean to say you regret it after all?
Doo not my captaines and my ſouldiers looke As if they meant to conquer Affrica?
c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene iiiSynonyms: intend
- intransitiveTo have as intentions of a given kind.First known use 14th c.
Don't be angry; she meant well.
- passiveregionaltransitiveTo intend (something) for a given purpose or fate; to predestine.First known use 16th c.
Man was not meant to question such things.
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Actually this desk was meant for the subeditor.
- transitiveTo intend an ensuing comment or statement as an explanation.
Your reasoning seems needlessly abstruse, complex, and verbose for me. I mean, could you dumb it down for my sake?
- To convey (a meaning).
- transitiveTo convey (a given sense); to signify, or indicate (an object or idea).First known use 8th c.
The sky is red this morning—does that mean we're in for a storm?
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An artificial kidney these days still means a refrigerator-sized dialysis machine. Such devices mimic the way real kidneys cleanse blood and eject impurities and surplus water as urine.
2013 June 1, “A better waterworks”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, →ISSN, page 5 - transitiveOf a word, symbol etc: to have reference to, to signify.First known use 8th c.
What does this hieroglyph mean?
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A term should be included if it’s likely that someone would run across it and want to know what it means.
2010, Alexander Humez, Nicholas Humez, Rob Flynn, quoting Wiktionary, Short Cuts: A Guide to Oaths, Ring Tones, Ransom Notes, Famous Last Words, and Other Forms of Minimalist Communication, New York: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 33Americans, for example, call newcomers to Antarctica “fingies”, which comes from FNGs – a borrowed military abbreviation that means “Fucking New Guy”.
2024 June 20, Eva Corlett, “Fidlets, fingies and riding a doo: study sheds light on Antarctic English slang”, in The Guardian
- transitiveTo have conviction in (something said or expressed); to be sincere in (what one says).First known use 18th c.
Say what you mean and mean what you say.
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Does she really mean what she said to him last night?
- transitiveTo cause or produce (a given result); to bring about (a given result).First known use 19th c.
One faltering step means certain death.
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This breakthrough will mean that we spend less on electricity bills.
It was a goal that meant West Ham won on their first appearance at Wembley in 31 years, in doing so becoming the first team since Leicester in 1996 to bounce straight back to the Premier League through the play-offs.
2012 May 19, Paul Fletcher, “Blackpool 1-2 West Ham”, in BBC SportOne of the hidden glories of Victorian engineering is proper drains.[…]But out of sight is out of mind. And that, together with the inherent yuckiness of the subject, means that many old sewers have been neglected and are in dire need of repair.
2014 June 14, “It’s a gas”, in The Economist, volume 411, number 8891, →ISSNSynonyms: bring about, cause, lead to, result in
- usuallyTo be of some level of importance.
That little dog meant everything to me.
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Formality and titles mean nothing in their circle.
- IrelandUKregionalTo lament.
All the tyme of his sickness he never said, “Alace!” or meaned any pain, whilk was marvellous. Never man died in greater peace of mind or body.
1619, Archibald Simson, A true record of the life and death of Mister Patrick Simsone (manuscript); printed in William King Tweedie, editor, Select Biographies, volume 1, Edinburgh, 1845, page 1111 more example
“ If you should die for me, sir knight, “ There’s few for you will mane, “ For many a better has died for me, “ Whose graves are growing green.
1810, Walter Scott (gatherer), “Proud Lady Margaret”, in Ministrelsy of the Scottish border, fourth edition, volume 2, Edinburgh, page 247Synonyms: grieve, mourn, afterthink, becry, begrieve, bemoan, bemourn, bewail
mean2
comparative meaner · superlative meanest
- archaicOf a common or low origin, grade, or quality; common; humble.
a mean abode
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a man of mean parentage
Thinke you I weigh this treaſure more than you? Not all the Gold in Indias welthy armes, Shall buy the meaneſt ſouldier in my traine.
c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act I, scene iiAfter every qualification of property had been laid aside, the armies of the Roman emperors were still commanded, for the most part, by officers of liberal birth and education; but the common soldiers, like the mercenary troops of modern Europe, were drawn from the meanest, and very frequently from the most profligate, of mankind.
1776, Edward Gibbon, chapter 1, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLCWhy lies He in such mean estate, Where ox and ass are feeding?
1865, “What Child Is This?”, William Chatterton Dix (lyrics) - Without dignity of mind; destitute of honour; low-minded; spiritless; base.
You hurt her feelings - that was a mean thing to do.
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It was mean of you to steal that little girl's piggy bank.
Can you imagine I ſo mean could prove, / To ſave my Life by changing of my Love?
1665 (first performance), John Dryden, The Indian Emperour, or, The Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman […], published 1667, →OCLC, Act IV, scene iv, page 50Prince John: Your foe has bloodied you, sir knight. Will you concede defeat? You fight too well to die so mean a death. Will you not throw in your lot with me instead? Ivanhoe: That would be an even meaner death, Your Grace.
1952, IvanhoeThe story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen. No one queried it. It was in the classic pattern of human weakness, mean and embarrassing and sad.
1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 20, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLCSynonyms: base, ignoble, selfish, unkind, vile · Antonyms: lofty, noble, honorable
- Of little value or worth; worthy of little or no regard; contemptible; despicable.
The Roman legions and great Caesar found / Our fathers no mean foes.
1708, [John Philips], “(please specify the page)”, in Cyder. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], →OCLC - UKUngenerous; stingy; tight-fisted.
He's so mean. I've never seen him spend so much as five pounds on presents for his children.
Synonyms: as tight as Dick's hatband, cheap, cheeseparing, chintzy, close, close as wax, close-fisted, illiberal
- Disobliging; pettily offensive or unaccommodating.
- Powerful; fierce; strong.
It must have been a mean typhoon that levelled this town.
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[…]in the context of ships available at the time, they were aircraft carrier - fleet carriers. Now, granted, they may not have been the biggest and largest and meanest fleet carriers around, but they certainly were fleet carriers.
2020 February 23, Drachinifel, 8:48 from the start, in The Drydock - Episode 082, archived from the original on 08 Aug 2022 - colloquialHearty; spicy.
She wasn’t the most accomplished cook in the world but she cold make a mean stew, she knew how to roast a chicken, and she could whip up eggs at least three different ways.
2021 July 28, Margaret Loudon, A Fatal Footnote, New York City: Berkley, →ISBN, page 1091 more example
We were sitting in Poetta’s candlelit kitchen waiting for some of her gut-burning chili to get done. Everybody that knows Poetta knows that she makes a mean chili that if you eat it by lunchtime, it can clean out your entire system by the end of the day.
2003 July 28, Debra Phillips, The High Price of a Good Man: A Novel, New York City: St. Martin's, page 29 - colloquialAccomplished with great skill; deft; hard to compete with.
He hits a mean backhand.
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Your mother can roll a mean cigarette.
A Robot Makes a Mean Caesar Salad, but Will It Cost Jobs? [title]
2017 October 6, Claire Martin, “A Robot Makes a Mean Caesar Salad, but Will It Cost Jobs?”, in The New York Times, →ISSN
mean3
alternative myn
- not comparableHaving the mean as its value; average.
The mean family has 2.4 children.
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In the mountain region of A-erh-t'ai Shan and Hsiang-t'ien Shan⁷, if the mean west wind velocity is five meters per second, the high tendency at 700mb on the anterior mountain slope may exceed 40 meters in 12 hours.
1960 April 7, “Communist China's Achievements in Numerical Weather Forecasting”, in 氣象學報, volume XXX, number 3, United States Joint Publications Research Service, →OCLC, archived from the original on 17 Apr 2022, page 4 - not comparableobsoleteMiddling; intermediate; moderately good, tolerable.
being of middle age and a mean stature
The New Arcadia
a. 1587, Philippe Sidnei [i.e., Philip Sidney], “(please specify the folio)”, in [Fulke Greville; Matthew Gwinne; John Florio], editors, The Countesse of Pembrokes Arcadia [The New Arcadia], London: […] [John Windet] for William Ponsonbie, published 1590, →OCLC2 more examples
I have declared in the causes what harm costiveness hath done in procuring this disease; if it be so noxious, the opposite must needs be good, or mean at least, as indeed it is[…].
1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 2, section 2, member 2according to the fittest style of lofty, mean, or lowly
[1644], [John Milton], Of Education. To Master Samuel Hartlib, [London]: […] [Thomas Underhill and/or Thomas Johnson], →OCLC
plural means · alternative myn
- alsonow chiefly in the plural form meansA method or course of action used to achieve some result.First known use 14th c.
Philosophical doubt is not an end, but a mean.
1860, William Hamilton, Lectures on Metaphysics3 more examples
To say truth, it is a meane full of uncertainty and danger.
1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 5, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLCYou may be able, by this mean, to review your own scientific acquirements.
c. 1812, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, EssaysMr Obama produced an only slightly less ambitious goal for deficit reduction than the House Republicans, albeit working from a more forgiving baseline: $4 trillion over 12 years compared to $4.4 trillion over 10 years. But the means by which he would achieve it are very different.
2011 April 14, “Rival visions”, in The Economist - obsoletesingularAn intermediate step or intermediate steps.
a. 1623, John Webster, The Duchess of Malfi Apply desperate physic: / We must not now use balsamum, but fire, / The smarting cupping-glass, for that's the mean / To purge infected blood, such blood as hers.
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Verily in this treatise this hath been mine only purpose; and the mean to bring the same to effect hath been such as whereby I studied to profit wholesomely, not to please delicately.
a. 1563, Thomas Harding, "To the Reader", in The Works of John Jewel (1845 ed.)That it was lawful and meritorious to kill and destroy the king, and all the said hereticks. — The mean to effect it, they concluded to be, that, 1. The king, the queen, the prince, the lords spiritual and temporal, the knights and burgoses of the parliament, should be blown up with powder. 2. That the whole royal issue male should be destroyed. S. That they would lake into their custody Elizabeth and Mary the king's daughters, and proclaim the lady Elizabeth queen. 4. That they should feign a Proclamation in the name of Elizabeth, in which no mention should be made of alteration of religion, nor that they were parties to the treason, until they had raised power to perform the same; and then to proclaim, all grievances in the kingdom should be reformed.
1606, The Trials of Robert Winter, Thomas Winter, Guy Fawkes, John Grant, Ambrose Rookwood, Rob. Keyes, Thomas Bates, and Sir Everard Digby, at Westminster, for High Treason, being Conspirators in the Gunpowder-Plot - Something which is intermediate or in the middle; an intermediate value or range of values; a medium.First known use 14th c.
Then will not this constitution be a kind of mean between aristocracy and oligarchy?
1997, John Llewelyn Davies with David J. Vaughan, Republic, translation of original by Plato, page 2632 more examples
as a mean, it implies certain extremes between which it lies, namely the more and the less
1996, Harris Rackham, The Nicomachean Ethics, translation of original by Aristotle, page 1181875, William Smith and Samuel Cheetham, editors, A Dictionary of Christian Antiquities, Little, Brown and Company, volume 1, page 10, s.v. Accentus Ecclesiasticus, It presents a sort of mean between speech and song, continually inclining towards the latter, never altogether leaving its hold on the former; it is speech, though always attuned speech, in passages of average interest and importance; it is song, though always distinct and articulate song, in passages demanding more fervid utterance.
- historicalentertainmentThe middle part of three-part polyphonic music; now specifically, the alto part in polyphonic music; an alto instrument.First known use 15th c.
Of these [rattles] they have Base, Tenor, Countertenor, Meane, and Treble.
1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, Kupperman, published 1988, page 147 - mathematicsAny function of multiple variables that satisfies certain properties and yields a number representative of its arguments; or, the number so yielded; a measure of central tendency.
The generalized power means include power means, certain Gini means, in particular the counter-harmonic means.
2003, P. S. Bullen, Handbook of Means and Their Inequalities, Springer, →ISBN, page 2512 more examples
Note that (1.41) is simply the probability-weighted mean without any explicit allowance for the stratification; each observation is weighted by its inflation factor and the total divided by the total of the inflation factors for the survey.
1997, Angus Deaton, The Analysis of Household Surveys: A Microeconometric Approach to Development Policy, World Bank Publications, page 51Luckily, even though the arithmetic mean is unusable, both the harmonic and geometric means settle to precise values as the amount of data increases.
2002, Clifford A. Pickover, The Mathematics of Oz: Mental Gymnastics from Beyond the Edge, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 246- mathematicsThe average of a set of values, calculated by summing them together and dividing by the number of terms.First known use 15th c.
While the average age of the rioter was 27.8 years, the mean age of the nonrioter was 38.1.
1980 June 22, Richard Morin, “Profile of a Rioter: Under 30, Male, Frustrated”, in The Washington Post, archived from the original on 28 Aug 2017Synonyms: arithmetic mean, average
- mathematicsEither of the two numbers in the middle of a conventionally presented proportion, as 2 and 3 in 1:2=3:6.
In #92;frac#123;18#125;#123;27#125;#61;#92;frac23, the product of the means is 2#92;cdot27, and the product of the extremes is 18#92;cdot3. Both products are 54.
2007, Carolyn C. Wheater, Homework Helpers: Geometry, Career Press,, →ISBN, page 992 more examples
...if four numbers be in proportion, the product of the first and last, or of the two extremes, is equal to the product of the second and third, or of the two means.
1825, Silvestre François Lacroix, translated by John Farrar, An Elementary Treatise on Arithmetic, third edition, page 102Using the means-extremes property of proportions, you know that the product of the extremes equals the product of the means. The ratio t/4 = 5/2 can be rewritten as t:4 = 5:2, in which the extremes are t and 2, and the means are 4 and 5.
1999, Dawn B. Sova, How to Solve Word Problems in Geometry, McGraw-Hill,, →ISBN, page 85Synonyms: geometric mean, mean proportional
MEAN4
- abbreviationacronymweb developmentAcronym of MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS, Node.js: a software stack for developing web sites with both client-side and server-side use of JavaScript.
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo intend, to plan (to do); to have as one's intention.
verbTo convey (a given sense); to signify, or indicate (an object or idea).
verbOf a person (or animal etc): to intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude.
verbTo cause or produce (a given result); to bring about (a given result).
verbTo lament.
adjectiveLow in quality or degree; inferior; poor; shabby.
adjectiveWithout dignity of mind; destitute of honour; low-minded; spiritless; base.
adjectiveUngenerous; stingy; tight-fisted.
adjectiveIntending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise; bearing ill will towards another.
nounThe average of a set of values, calculated by summing them together and dividing by the number of terms.
nounEither of the two numbers in the middle of a conventionally presented proportion, as 2 and 3 in 1:2=3:6.
More synonyms by meaning
adjectivehaving or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality
adjective(used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity
adjective(used of sums of money) so small in amount as to deserve contempt
adjectiveof no value or worth
adjectivevery good; of the highest quality
nounan average of n numbers computed by adding some function of the numbers and dividing by some function of n
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
mean · verb
- Proto-Indo-European*mey-
- Proto-Indo-European*meyno-
- Proto-Indo-European*meyn-“to think”
- Proto-Germanic*mainijaną“to mean, think; complain”
- Proto-West Germanic*mainijan
- Old Englishmǣnan“to mean, complain”
- Middle Englishmenen“to intend; remember; lament; comfort”
- Englishmean
From Middle English menen (“to intend; remember; lament; comfort”), from Old English mǣnan (“to mean, complain”), Proto-West Germanic *mainijan, from Proto-Germanic *mainijaną (“to mean, think; complain”), from Proto-Indo-European *meyn- (“to think”), or perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *meyno-, extended form of Proto-Indo-European *mey-. Germanic cognates include West Frisian miene (“to deem, think”) (Old Frisian mēna (“to signify”)), Dutch menen (“to believe, think, mean”) (Middle Dutch menen (“to think, intend”)), German meinen (“to think, mean, believe”), Old Saxon mēnian. Indo-European cognates include Old Irish mían (“wish, desire”) and Polish mienić (“to signify, believe”). Non-Indo-European cognates include Finnish mainita (“to mention”), Finnish meinata (“to mean, to plan, to intend”) Estonian mainima (“to mention”), Northern Sami máinnastit (“to tell”). Related to moan.
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic
Full word history & related roots →mean · adjective
- Proto-Indo-European*mey-“to change, exchange, share”
- Proto-Germanic*gamainiz“common”
- Proto-West Germanic*gamainī
- Old Englishmǣne
- Middle Englishmene
- Englishmean
From Middle English mene, imene, from Old English mǣne, ġemǣne (“common, public, general, universal”), from Proto-West Germanic *gamainī, from Proto-Germanic *gamainiz (“common”), from Proto-Indo-European *mey- (“to change, exchange, share”). Doublet of common. Cognate with West Frisian mien (“general, universal”), Dutch gemeen (“common, mean”), German gemein (“common, mean, nasty”), Danish gemen, Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌼𐌰𐌹𐌽𐍃 (gamains, “common, unclean”), Latin commūnis (“shared, common, general”) (Old Latin comoinem). For a similar change in definition, see vulgar.
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic
Full word history & related roots →mean · adjective, noun
- Latinmedius“middle”
- Old Frenchmeien
- Middle Englishmeene
- Englishmean
From Middle English meene, borrowed from Old French meien (French moyen), Late Latin mediānus (“that is in the middle, middle”), from Latin medius (“middle”). Cognate with mid. For the musical sense, compare the cognate Italian mezzano. Doublet of median and mizzen.
More words from Middle English, Old French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek σημαίνω, μεσότης
- σημαίνω (sēmaínō)of a word: to signify
- μεσότης (mesótēs)intermediate value
Arabic عَنَى, عَنَى
- عَنَى (ʕanā)to convey, indicate
- عَنَى (ʕanā)of a word: to signify
- قَصَدَ (qaṣada)of a word: to signify
- لَئِيم (laʔīm)intending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- خَسِيس (ḵasīs)intending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- مُتَوَسِّط (mutawassiṭ)the statistical value
Basque esan nahi izan, adierazi
- esan nahi izanof a word: to signify
- adieraziof a word: to signify
- ankerintending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- gaiztointending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
Bulgarian имам намерение, предназначавам
- имам намерение (imam namerenie)to have intentions of some kind
- предназначавам (prednaznačavam)to intend (something) for a given purpose or fate
- предназнача (prednaznača)to intend (something) for a given purpose or fate
- означа́вам (označávam)to convey, indicate
- зна́ча (znáča)to convey, indicate
- означавам (označavam)of a word: to signify
- знача (znača)of a word: to signify
- имам предвид (imam predvid)to intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude
- имам предвид (imam predvid)to have conviction in what one says
- знача (znača)to result in; bring about
- възнамерявам (văznamerjavam)to intend; plan on doing
- знача (znača)to be important
- посредствен (posredstven)low in quality
- низък (nizăk)low-minded; acting without consideration of others
- подъл (podăl)low-minded; acting without consideration of others
- стиснат (stisnat)miserly, stingy
- свидлив (svidliv)miserly, stingy
- зъл (zăl)intending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- мощен (mošten)powerful; fierce; harsh; damaging
- съсипателен (săsipatelen)powerful; fierce; harsh; damaging
- разрушителен (razrušitelen)powerful; fierce; harsh; damaging
- първокласен (părvoklasen)accomplished with great skill; deft; hard to compete with
- първоразреден (părvorazreden)accomplished with great skill; deft; hard to compete with
- страшен (strašen)accomplished with great skill; deft; hard to compete with
- сре́ден (sréden)having the mean as its value
- начин (način)method by which something is done
- средство (sredstvo)method by which something is done
- междинна стъпка (meždinna stăpka)intermediate step
- средна стойност (sredna stojnost)intermediate value
- алт (alt)alto, in music
- средна стойност (sredna stojnost)arithmetic mean
- средно (sredno)the statistical value
Catalan significar, voler dir
- significarto convey, indicate
- voler dirof a word: to signify
- significarof a word: to signify
- voler dirto have conviction in what one says
- pretendreto intend; plan on doing
- significarto be important
- garrepamiserly, stingy
- mighaving the mean as its value
- mitjanaarithmetic mean
Chinese Mandarin 意味, 是……的意思
- 意味 (yìwèi)to convey, indicate
- 是……的意思 (shì ... de yìsi)to convey, indicate
- ……的意思是…… (... de yìsi shì ...)of a word: to signify
- 卑鄙的 (bēibǐ de)low-minded; acting without consideration of others
Czech znamenat, znamenat
- znamenatto convey, indicate
- znamenatof a word: to signify
- chtítto intend; plan on doing
- plánovatto intend; plan on doing
- středníhaving the mean as its value
- prostředekmethod by which something is done
- aritmetický průměrarithmetic mean
Danish betyde, mene
- betydeto convey, indicate
- meneof a word: to signify
- nærigmiserly, stingy
- middelmethod by which something is done
Dutch bedoelen, menen
- bedoelento have intentions of some kind
- menento have intentions of some kind
- bedoelento intend (something) for a given purpose or fate
- betekenento convey, indicate
- willen zeggento convey, indicate
- bedoelento convey, indicate
- bedoelenof a word: to signify
- willen zeggenof a word: to signify
- betekenenof a word: to signify
- menento have conviction in what one says
- betekenento result in; bring about
- willento intend; plan on doing
- minderwaardiglow in quality
- gemeenlow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- gemeenintending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- boosaardigintending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- gemeenpowerful; fierce; harsh; damaging
- gemiddeldhaving the mean as its value
- gemiddeldehaving the mean as its value
- middelmethod by which something is done
- gemiddeldeintermediate value
Esperanto intenci, voli diri
- intencito have intentions of some kind
- voli dirito convey, indicate
- signifito convey, indicate
- signifiof a word: to signify
- signifito result in; bring about
- intencito intend; plan on doing
- malbonkvalitalow in quality
- kruelalow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- malafablalow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- kruelaintending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- malafablaintending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- mezahaving the mean as its value
- rimedomethod by which something is done
Estonian tähendama
- tähendamato convey, indicate
Finnish tarkoittaa, tarkoittaa
- tarkoittaato have intentions of some kind
- tarkoittaato intend (something) for a given purpose or fate
- tarkoittaato convey, indicate
- merkitäto convey, indicate
- tietääto convey, indicate
- merkitäof a word: to signify
- tarkoittaaof a word: to signify
- tarkoittaato intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude
- tarkoittaato have conviction in what one says
- vihjatato have conviction in what one says
- meinatato have conviction in what one says
- johtaato result in; bring about
- kehnolow in quality
- huonolow in quality
- ilkeälow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- häijylow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- kitsasmiserly, stingy
- itaramiserly, stingy
- nuukamiserly, stingy
- pihimiserly, stingy
- ilkeäintending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- vahvapowerful; fierce; harsh; damaging
- voimakaspowerful; fierce; harsh; damaging
- kovapowerful; fierce; harsh; damaging
- keski-having the mean as its value
- keinomethod by which something is done
- välinemethod by which something is done
- tapamethod by which something is done
- väliaskelintermediate step
- keskiarvointermediate value
- keskilukuintermediate value
- alttoalto, in music
- keskiarvoarithmetic mean
- keskimmäinen jäsenmathematics: either of the two numbers in the middle of a conventionally presented proportion
- keskilukuthe statistical value
French signifier, vouloir dire
- signifierto convey, indicate
- vouloir direto convey, indicate
- vouloir direof a word: to signify
- signifierof a word: to signify
- entendreto intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude
- avoir l'intentionto intend; plan on doing
- entendre faireto intend; plan on doing
- inférieurlow in quality
- inférieurelow in quality
- radinmiserly, stingy
- pingremiserly, stingy
- méchantintending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- cruelintending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- moyenhaving the mean as its value
- moyenmethod by which something is done
- moyenneintermediate value
- moyennearithmetic mean
- moyennethe statistical value
German bedeuten, meinen
- bedeutento convey, indicate
- meinenof a word: to signify
- beabsichtigenof a word: to signify
- meinento have conviction in what one says
- bedeutento result in; bring about
- beabsichtigento intend; plan on doing
- mittelmäßiglow in quality
- gemeinlow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- böselow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- gemeinintending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- Mittel-having the mean as its value
- Mittelmethod by which something is done
- Mittelintermediate value
Greek εννοώ, σημαίνω
- εννοώ (ennoó)to convey, indicate
- σημαίνω (simaíno)to convey, indicate
- σημαίνω (simaíno)of a word: to signify
- εννοώ (ennoó)to intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude
- άθλιος (áthlios)low in quality
- κακός (kakós)low-minded; acting without consideration of others
- άγριος (ágrios)intending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- άγριος (ágrios)powerful; fierce; harsh; damaging
- μέσος (mésos)having the mean as its value
- μέσος όρος (mésos óros)the statistical value
Hebrew התכוון, הִתְכַּוֵּן
- התכוון (hitkavén)to have intentions of some kind
- הִתְכַּוֵּן (hitkavén)to have intentions of some kind
- יֵעֵד (ye'éd)to intend (something) for a given purpose or fate
- אָמַר (amár)to convey, indicate
- התכוון (hitkavén)of a word: to signify
- הִתְכַּוֵּן (hitkavén)of a word: to signify
- התכוון (hitkavén)to intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude
- הִתְכַּוֵּן (hitkavén)to intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude
- התכוון (hitkavén)to have conviction in what one says
- הִתְכַּוֵּן (hitkavén)to have conviction in what one says
- התכוון (hitkavén)to intend; plan on doing
- הִתְכַּוֵּן (hitkavén)to intend; plan on doing
- קַמְצָןmiserly, stingy
- ממוצעhaving the mean as its value
- מְמֻצַּע (memutsá)having the mean as its value
- אמצעי (emtza'i)method by which something is done
Hindi चाह, कामना
- चाह (cāh)to have intentions of some kind
- कामना (kāmnā)to intend (something) for a given purpose or fate
- अर्थ (arth)to convey, indicate
- अर्थात (arthāt)of a word: to signify
- चाह (cāh)to intend; plan on doing
Hungarian akar, szán
- akarto have intentions of some kind
- szánto intend (something) for a given purpose or fate
- jelentto convey, indicate
- jelentof a word: to signify
- értto intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude
- gondolto intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude
- célozto intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude
- komolyan gondolto have conviction in what one says
- járto result in; bring about
- maga után vonto result in; bring about
- jelentto result in; bring about
- akarto intend; plan on doing
Icelandic meina, ætla
- meinato have intentions of some kind
- ætlato have intentions of some kind
- meinato convey, indicate
- þýðato convey, indicate
- meinaof a word: to signify
- þýðaof a word: to signify
- ætlato intend; plan on doing
- meðaltalarithmetic mean
- hreint meðaltalarithmetic mean
- venjulegt meðaltalarithmetic mean
- milliliðurmathematics: either of the two numbers in the middle of a conventionally presented proportion
- innliðurmathematics: either of the two numbers in the middle of a conventionally presented proportion
- meðaltalthe statistical value
Indonesian berarti, berarti
- berartito convey, indicate
- berartiof a word: to signify
- bermaksudto intend; plan on doing
- jahatintending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- rata-rataintermediate value
- rata-rataarithmetic mean
- rerataarithmetic mean
- purataarithmetic mean
- nilai tengaharithmetic mean
Irish ciallaigh, tútach
- ciallaighof a word: to signify
- tútachlow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- míghnaíúilmiserly, stingy
- ocrachmiserly, stingy
- ceacharthamiserly, stingy
- sprionlaithemiserly, stingy
- meánhaving the mean as its value
Italian intendere, essere fatto per
- intendereto have intentions of some kind
- essere fatto perto intend (something) for a given purpose or fate
- significareto convey, indicate
- volere direto convey, indicate
- volere direof a word: to signify
- significareof a word: to signify
- intendereto intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude
- intendereto have conviction in what one says
- volere direto result in; bring about
- significareto result in; bring about
- portareto result in; bring about
- volereto intend; plan on doing
- inferiorelow in quality
- mediocrelow in quality
- insignificantelow in quality
- meschinolow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- grettolow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- ignobilelow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- taccagnomiserly, stingy
- avaromiserly, stingy
- spilorciomiserly, stingy
- cattivointending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- malignointending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- malevolointending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- mediohaving the mean as its value
- mezzomethod by which something is done
- mediaintermediate value
- mediaarithmetic mean
- mediomathematics: either of the two numbers in the middle of a conventionally presented proportion
- mediathe statistical value
Japanese 意図する, するつもり
- 意図する (ito suru)to have intentions of some kind
- するつもり (suru tsumori)to have intentions of some kind
- 意味する (imi suru)to convey, indicate
- 意味する (imi suru)of a word: to signify
- 意味する (imi suru)to have conviction in what one says
- 意味する (imi suru)to result in; bring about
- 意図する (ito suru)to intend; plan on doing
- するつもり (suru tsumori)to intend; plan on doing
- 悪い (warui)low in quality
- 劣る (otoru)low in quality
- 卑しい (iyashii)low-minded; acting without consideration of others
- 醜い (minikui)low-minded; acting without consideration of others
- 汚い (kitanai)low-minded; acting without consideration of others
- 卑劣な (hiretsu na)low-minded; acting without consideration of others
- 下劣な (geretsu na)low-minded; acting without consideration of others
- 腹黒い (haraguroi)intending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- 厄介な (yakkai na)powerful; fierce; harsh; damaging
- 平均の (heikin no)having the mean as its value
- 平均的な (heikinteki na)having the mean as its value
- 平均 (heikin)intermediate value
- 平均値 (heikinchi)intermediate value
Korean 의도(意圖)하다, 의미(意味)하다
- 의도(意圖)하다 (uidohada)to have intentions of some kind
- 의미(意味)하다 (uimihada)to convey, indicate
- 뜻하다 (tteuthada)to convey, indicate
- 의미(意味)하다 (uimihada)of a word: to signify
- 의미(意味)하다 (uimihada)to have conviction in what one says
- 초래(招來)하다 (choraehada)to result in; bring about
- 의도(意圖)하다 (uidohada)to intend; plan on doing
- 나쁘다 (nappeuda)low in quality
- 열등(劣等)하다 (yeoldeunghada)low in quality
- 나쁘다 (nappeuda)low-minded; acting without consideration of others
- 비열(卑劣)하다 (biyeolhada)low-minded; acting without consideration of others
- 이기적(利己的)이다 (igijeog-ida)low-minded; acting without consideration of others
- 치사(恥事)하다 (chisahada)low-minded; acting without consideration of others
- 나쁘다 (nappeuda)intending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- 악(惡)하다 (akhada)intending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- 악의적(惡意的)이다 (aguijeog-ida)intending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- 못되다 (motdoeda)intending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- 가혹(苛酷)하다 (gahokhada)powerful; fierce; harsh; damaging
- 평균(平均)의 (pyeonggyun-ui)having the mean as its value
- 수단 (sudan)method by which something is done
- 평균 (pyeonggyun)intermediate value
- 평균치 (pyeonggyunchi)intermediate value
- 평균(平均)값 (pyeonggyun'gap)intermediate value
- 평균 (pyeonggyun)arithmetic mean
Latin indicō, significō
- indicōto convey, indicate
- significōto convey, indicate
- significoof a word: to signify
- voloto intend; plan on doing
- habeo in animoto intend; plan on doing
Latvian nozīmēt, zemisks
- nozīmētto convey, indicate
- zemiskslow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- nekrietnslow-minded; acting without consideration of others
Lithuanian reikšti, turėti omenyje
- reikštito convey, indicate
- turėti omenyjeto convey, indicate
- reikštiof a word: to signify
Malay min, min
- minarithmetic mean
- minthe statistical value
Māori toharite, tau toharite
- tohariteintermediate value
- tau tohariteintermediate value
- tau toharitearithmetic mean
- toharitethe statistical value
- tau toharitethe statistical value
Norwegian bety
- betyto convey, indicate
Norwegian Bokmål innebære
- innebæreto convey, indicate
Persian معنی کردن, میانه
- معنی کردن (ma'ni kardan)to convey, indicate
- میانه (miyâne)intermediate step
Polish chcieć, znaczyć
- chciećto have intentions of some kind
- znaczyćto convey, indicate
- znaczyćof a word: to signify
- mieć na myślito intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude
- chciećto intend; plan on doing
- średnihaving the mean as its value
Portuguese querer, querer dizer
- quererto have intentions of some kind
- querer dizerto convey, indicate
- indicarto convey, indicate
- significarof a word: to signify
- querer dizerof a word: to signify
- falar sérioto have conviction in what one says
- significarto result in; bring about
- representarto result in; bring about
- pretenderto intend; plan on doing
- tencionarto intend; plan on doing
- maulow in quality
- inferiorlow in quality
- maulow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- ruimlow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- avarentomiserly, stingy
- mesquinhomiserly, stingy
- tacanhomiserly, stingy
- mauintending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- ruimintending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- maldosointending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- cruelpowerful; fierce; harsh; damaging
- terrívelpowerful; fierce; harsh; damaging
- médiohaving the mean as its value
- meiomethod by which something is done
- recursomethod by which something is done
- meiointermediate step
- passointermediate step
- médiaintermediate value
- altoalto, in music
- médiaarithmetic mean
- médiathe statistical value
Romanian meni, însemna
- menito intend (something) for a given purpose or fate
- însemnato convey, indicate
- indicato convey, indicate
- însemnaof a word: to signify
- semnificaof a word: to signify
- vrea să spunăto intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude
- vrea să zicăto intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude
- but see vorbi seriosto have conviction in what one says
- însemnato result in; bring about
- vreato intend; plan on doing
- dorito intend; plan on doing
- intenționato intend; plan on doing
- mediuhaving the mean as its value
- mijlocintermediate value
- mediuintermediate value
- medieintermediate value
- mediuarithmetic mean
Russian собира́ться, намерева́ться
- собира́ться (sobirátʹsja)to have intentions of some kind
- намерева́ться (namerevátʹsja)to have intentions of some kind
- предназначать (prednaznačatʹ)to intend (something) for a given purpose or fate
- предназначить (prednaznačitʹ)to intend (something) for a given purpose or fate
- зна́чить (znáčitʹ)to convey, indicate
- означа́ть (označátʹ)to convey, indicate
- име́ть в виду́ (imétʹ v vidú)of a word: to signify
- име́ть в виду́ (imétʹ v vidú)to have conviction in what one says
- ду́мать (dúmatʹ)to have conviction in what one says
- зна́чить (znáčitʹ)to result in; bring about
- означа́ть (označátʹ)to result in; bring about
- собира́ться (sobirátʹsja)to intend; plan on doing
- дрянной (drjannoj)low in quality
- низкокачественный (nizkokačestvennyj)low in quality
- по́длый (pódlyj)low-minded; acting without consideration of others
- скупой (skupoj)miserly, stingy
- прижимистый (prižimistyj)miserly, stingy
- злой (zloj)intending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- зло́бный (zlóbnyj)intending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- мощный (moščnyj)powerful; fierce; harsh; damaging
- разрушительный (razrušitelʹnyj)powerful; fierce; harsh; damaging
- классный (klassnyj)accomplished with great skill; deft; hard to compete with
- первоклассный (pervoklassnyj)accomplished with great skill; deft; hard to compete with
- сре́дний (srédnij)having the mean as its value
- сре́дство (srédstvo)method by which something is done
- сре́днее (srédneje)arithmetic mean
- сре́днее (srédneje)the statistical value
Scottish Gaelic ciallaich, meadhan
- ciallaichto convey, indicate
- meadhanmethod by which something is done
- meadhanintermediate value
- cuibheasintermediate value
- cuibheasachdintermediate value
- meadhanarithmetic mean
- cuibheasarithmetic mean
- cuibheasachdarithmetic mean
- meadhanthe statistical value
- cuibheasthe statistical value
- cuibheasachdthe statistical value
Slovak znamenať, stredný
- znamenaťto convey, indicate
- strednýhaving the mean as its value
Spanish querer decir, querer decir
- querer decirto convey, indicate
- querer decirof a word: to signify
- intencionar/querer decirto intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude
- decir/hablar en serioto have conviction in what one says
- pretenderto intend; plan on doing
- significarto be important
- importarto be important
- ser importante (para)to be important
- serle importante ato be important
- malolow in quality
- malolow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- mala gentelow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- mala ondalow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- aviesolow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- malulolow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- maldosolow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- ruinlow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- que le trata mal alow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- malointending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- ruinintending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- maldosointending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- mediohaving the mean as its value
- mediomethod by which something is done
- recursomethod by which something is done
- mediaintermediate value
- mediaarithmetic mean
- mediathe statistical value
Swedish mena, betyda
- menato have intentions of some kind
- betydato convey, indicate
- innebärato convey, indicate
- menaof a word: to signify
- betydaof a word: to signify
- syfta påof a word: to signify
- menato have conviction in what one says
- betydato result in; bring about
- innebärato result in; bring about
- tänkato intend; plan on doing
- gemenlow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- usellow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- elakintending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- genomsnittlighaving the mean as its value
- medel-having the mean as its value
- genomsnittintermediate value
- medelvärdeintermediate value
Tagalog inilaan, ibig sabihin
- inilaanto intend (something) for a given purpose or fate
- ibig sabihinto convey, indicate
- mangahuluganof a word: to signify
- ipakahuluganof a word: to signify
- sadyainto intend; plan on doing
- kusainto intend; plan on doing
- tikisinto intend; plan on doing
- mababalow in quality
- mahinalow in quality
- mababalow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- mahinalow-minded; acting without consideration of others
- mumurahinmiserly, stingy
- imbiintending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- bulastogintending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise
- panggitnahaving the mean as its value
- pro-medyohaving the mean as its value
- paraanmethod by which something is done
- kagintaanintermediate value
- kagitnaanintermediate value
- tamtamanarithmetic mean
Thai หมายถึง, หมายความ
- หมายถึง (măaitĕung)to convey, indicate
- หมายความ (măaikwaam)to convey, indicate
- หมายถึง (măai tĕung)of a word: to signify
- ตั้งใจ (dtâng-jai)to intend; plan on doing
Turkish plânlamak, anlama gelmek
- plânlamakto have intentions of some kind
- anlama gelmekto convey, indicate
- anlamına gelmekto convey, indicate
- manaya gelmekto convey, indicate
- manasına gelmekto convey, indicate
- demekto convey, indicate
- demek istemekof a word: to signify
- kastetmekof a word: to signify
- demek istemekto have conviction in what one says
- kastetmekto have conviction in what one says
- neden olmakto result in; bring about
- sebep olmakto result in; bring about
- cimrimiserly, stingy
- yolmethod by which something is done
Ukrainian збира́тися, означа́ти
- збира́тися (zbyrátysja)to have intentions of some kind
- означа́ти (označáty)to convey, indicate
- зна́чити (znáčyty)to convey, indicate
- ма́ти на ува́зі (máty na uvázi)of a word: to signify
- ма́ти на ува́зі (máty na uvázi)to have conviction in what one says
- дума́ти (dumáty)to have conviction in what one says
- зна́чити (znáčyty)to result in; bring about
- означа́ти (označáty)to result in; bring about
- збира́тися (zbyrátysja)to intend; plan on doing
- сере́дній (serédnij)having the mean as its value
- сере́днє (serédnje)arithmetic mean
Vietnamese nghĩa là, có nghĩa là
- nghĩa làto convey, indicate
- có nghĩa làof a word: to signify
Welsh golygu, golygu
- golyguto convey, indicate
- golyguof a word: to signify
- cymedrighaving the mean as its value
Yiddish באַטײַטן, בייז
- באַטײַטן (bataytn)of a word: to signify
- בייז (beyz)low-minded; acting without consideration of others
- פּאַסקודנע (paskudne)low-minded; acting without consideration of others
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with mean
Sounds the same
Anagrams
Cite this entry
mean. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mean
“mean.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mean. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mean,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mean.
Source: mean on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.