请输入您要查询的英文单词:

 

单词 by means of
释义

mean

1 of 4

verb

ˈmēn How to pronounce mean (audio)
meant ˈment How to pronounce mean (audio) ; meaning ˈmē-niŋ How to pronounce mean (audio)

transitive verb

1
a
: to have in the mind as a purpose : intend
she means to win
sometimes used interjectionally with I, chiefly in informal speech for emphasis
he throws, I mean, hard
or to introduce a phrase restating the point of a preceding phrase
we try to answer what we can, but I mean we're not GodBobbie Ann Mason
b
: to design for or destine to a specified purpose or future
I was meant to teach
2
: to serve or intend to convey, show, or indicate : signify
a red sky means rain
3
: to have importance to the degree of
health means everything
4
: to direct to a particular individual
His criticism was meant for all of us.

intransitive verb

: to have an intended purpose
he means well
meaner
ˈmē-nər How to pronounce mean (audio)
noun

mean

2 of 4

adjective (1)

ˈmēn How to pronounce mean (audio)
1
: lacking distinction or eminence : humble
2
: lacking in mental discrimination : dull
3
a
: of poor, shabby, or inferior quality or status
mean city streets
b
: worthy of little regard : contemptible
often used in negative constructions as a term of praise
no mean feat
4
: lacking dignity or honor : base
a mean motive
5
a
: penurious, stingy
He's very mean with his money.
b
: characterized by petty selfishness or malice
a mean surly man
c
: causing trouble or bother : vexatious
a mean soil to work
d
: excellent, effective
plays a mean trumpet
a lean, mean athlete
6
: ashamed sense 1b
His ready cooperation made me feel mean for what I had said.
meanness
ˈmēn-nəs How to pronounce mean (audio)
noun

mean

3 of 4

adjective (2)

ˈmēn How to pronounce mean (audio)
1
: occupying a middle position : intermediate in space, order, time, kind, or degree
2
: occupying a position about midway between extremes
especially : being the mean of a set of values : average
the mean temperature
3
: serving as a means : intermediary

mean

4 of 4

noun

ˈmēn How to pronounce mean (audio)
1
a(1)
: something intervening or intermediate
(2)
: a middle point between extremes
b
: a value that lies within a range of values and is computed according to a prescribed law: such as
(1)
: arithmetic mean
(2)
: expected value
c
: either of the middle two terms of a proportion
2
means plural in form but singular or plural in construction : something useful or helpful to a desired end
3
means plural : resources available for disposal
especially : material resources affording a secure life
Phrases
mean business
: to be in earnest
by all means
: most assuredly : certainly
by means of
: through the use of
by no means
: in no way : not at all

Synonyms

Verb

  • denote
  • express
  • import
  • intend
  • signify
  • spell

Adjective (1)

  • baseborn
  • common
  • humble
  • ignoble
  • inferior
  • low
  • low-life
  • lowborn
  • lower-class
  • lowly
  • lumpen
  • plebeian
  • prole
  • proletarian
  • unwashed
  • vulgar

Adjective (2)

  • average
  • intermediate
  • median
  • medium
  • middle
  • middling
  • midsize
  • midsized
  • moderate
  • modest

Noun

  • golden mean
  • medium
  • middle
  • middle ground
  • midpoint
See all Synonyms & Antonyms

Example Sentences

Verb The season of backyard barbecues and lakeside cookouts is at hand, which in most parts of the country means an orgy of grilled steaks, hamburgers and hot dogs lasting until Labor Day and beyond. R. W. Apple, Jr., New York Times, 5 June 2002 Even the water in the cave was free from surface contamination … which meant that all the water now in Lechugilla percolated into the cave before the widespread nuclear bomb testing of the 1940s … Jon Krakauer, Air & Space, October/November 1995 Home meant my father, with kind eyes, songs, and tense recitations for my brother and myself. Gwendolyn Brooks, Booklist, 15 Oct. 1993 The word meant one thing in Shakespeare's day, but it means something else now. Red means “stop” and green means “go.” Can you tell me what my dream means? What was meant by the poet? Don't distort what she meant by taking her words out of context. He's very ambitious, and I mean that as a compliment. It's a very easy question. Anyone, and I mean anyone, should be able to answer it. She's not getting any thinner, if you know what I mean. She says she didn't mean anything by what she did. I don't trust him. He means no good. Adjective (1) For thirty years he had been a ruthless litigator, the meanest, nastiest, and without a doubt one of the most effective courtroom brawlers in Chicago. John Grisham, The Chamber, 1995 … the streets of Spanish Harlem are meaner than when he left them, and they're pulling him back in. Peter Travers, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 1993 … what you discover is the one with the tail was old mean landlord Mr. prosperous Prospero who wielded without thought of God or man the merry old cat-o'-nine-tails … Darryl Pinckney, Times Literary Supplement, 23 Aug. 1991 Creighton Abrams was a tanker, according to George Patton the meanest tanker the Germans had faced in the whole U.S. Third Army, and he had a temper that matched the fearsome machines he loved. Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988 Noun Take all these temperatures and calculate their mean. trying to find a golden mean between doing too little and doing too much See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
What the numbers mean Blood pressure is reported with two numbers. Fortune Well, 21 Feb. 2023 Felines and their owners flocked to the Arkansas State Fairgrounds Hall of Industry on Saturday, which could mean only one thing -- the annual all-breed cat show, was back in town. Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 20 Feb. 2023 Love: That of course does not mean that every relationship is a happy one. Shayla Love, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2023 While most guys default to the same stodgy penguin suit for big occasions, some are realizing that dressy needn’t mean dull. Todd Plummer, WSJ, 17 Feb. 2023 But that doesn't necessarily mean that people are going to want to work more than a certain number of hours. Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 17 Feb. 2023 Look for metal frames which often mean a heavier, more stable construction. Men's Health, 16 Feb. 2023 The Heat currently are the No. 7 seed in the Eastern conference playoff race, which would mean having to play in the play-in tournament in order to advance to the best-of-seven opening round of the playoffs. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2023 Tiny living can mean different things to different people. Kimberley Mok, Treehugger, 16 Feb. 2023 See More

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English menen, from Old English mǣnan; akin to Old High German meinen to have in mind, Old Church Slavonic měniti to mention

Adjective (1)

Middle English mene, from imene common, shared, from Old English gemǣne; akin to Old High German gimeini common, Latin communis common, munus service, gift, Sanskrit mayate he exchanges

Adjective (2) and Noun

Middle English mene, from Anglo-French mene, meiene, from Latin medianus — more at median

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Kids Definition

mean

1 of 4 adjective
ˈmēn How to pronounce mean (audio)
1
: lacking distinction or prominence : humble
2
: of poor, shabby, or inferior quality or status
lives in mean surroundings
3
: worthy of little regard : inferior
often used in negative constructions as a term of praise
a person of no mean ability
4
: deliberately unkind
5
: stingy sense 1, miserly
6
: spiteful, malicious
a mean remark
7
: causing trouble or bother
a mean horse
8
: excellent
plays a mean trumpet
meanly adverb
meanness
ˈmēn-nəs
noun

mean

2 of 4 verb
ˈmēn How to pronounce mean (audio)
meant
ˈment
; meaning
ˈmē-niŋ
1
a
: to have as a purpose : intend
I mean to go
b
: to intend for a particular purpose or use
a book meant for children
2
: to serve to communicate, show, or indicate : signify
what do these words mean
those clouds mean rain
3
: to be important to a specified degree
health means everything to us

mean

3 of 4 adjective
1
: holding a middle position : intermediate
2
a
: lying about midway between extremes
b
: being the mean of a set of values : average
mean temperature

mean

4 of 4 noun
1
: a middle point between extremes
2
a
: a value that represents a range of values
especially : arithmetic mean
b
: either of the middle two terms of a proportion
3
plural : something by which a desired result is achieved or furthered
means of production
use any means you can
4
plural : wealth sense 1
a person of means

by means of

phrase

as in by
using the means or agency of He finally raised his math grade by means of tutoring and extra credit work.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
  • by
  • through
  • via
  • with
  • by virtue of
  • in virtue of
  • in
  • per
  • by dint of
随便看

 

英语词典包含469781条英英释义在线翻译词条,基本涵盖了全部常用单词的英英翻译及用法,是英语学习的有利工具。

 

Copyright © 2004-2022 Newdu.com All Rights Reserved
更新时间:2024/12/23 10:25:51