| 释义 |
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024mean•ness (mēn′nis),USA pronunciation n. - the state or quality of being mean.
- a mean act:to answer meannesses with forgiveness.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024mean1 /min/USA pronunciation v., meant/mɛnt/USA pronunciation mean•ing. - to have as its meaning or its sense;
to signify: [~ + object][not: be + ~-ing]The word "klock'' in Swedish means "smart; wise.''[~ + (that) clause]That gesture means that the person hates you. - to desire to express or indicate;
to refer: [~ + object][not: be + ~-ing]Which book did you mean?[~ + (that) clause]By "perfect'' I mean there should be no mistakes. - to have in mind as one's purpose or intention;
intend: [~ + object]She meant no harm.[ ~ + to + verb]:I've been meaning to call you, but things got too busy.[no object]I'm sure they meant well, but they didn't finish the job. - to be expected to happen in a certain way:[be + meant* not: be + ~ -ing]The couple were meant for each other.
- to produce (something) as a result: [~ + object][not: be + ~ -ing]Further budget cuts will mean more layoffs.[~ + (that) clause]Does this traffic jam mean we'll be late?
- to show that something exists as a cause: [~ + object][not: be + ~ -ing]A grinding noise could mean a damaged disk drive.[~ + (that) clause]A flickering screen could mean that your computer cables are not connected tightly.
- to have the value of;
to have the importance of:[not: be + ~-ing* ~ + object]Money means everything to them.
mean2 /min/USA pronunciation adj., -er, -est. - having evil or unkind intentions;
malicious:a mean, cruel remark. - small-minded:mean motives.
- stingy;
miserly:mean with one's money. - low in status:of mean and humble birth.
- bad-tempered:a mean old horse.
- excellent;
topnotch:plays a mean game of tennis.
mean•ly, adv. mean•ness, n. [uncountable]mean3 /min/USA pronunciation n. [countable], pl. means. - Usually, means. [plural] an instrument, thing, or method used to achieve something:They have the means, but do they have the will?[countable* singular;
used with a singular verb]The quickest means of travel into the jungle is by canoe.[plural* used with a plural verb]The means of winning that election are many: bribery, threats, and smear tactics. - means, [plural]
- available resources, esp. money:We don't have sufficient means to send our children to college.
- considerable financial resources:a person of means.
- something located in the middle between two extremes:in the mean.
- an average, esp. the arithmetic mean.
adj. [before a noun] - occupying a middle position:the mean amount of rainfall for that region.
Idioms- Idioms by all means, certainly:By all means, help yourself, but save some for me.
- Idioms by means of, by the way or method of;
by the use of or by using. - Idioms by no means or not by any means, not at all;
definitely not:By no means is he ready to retire. He is not by any means ready to retire.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024mean1 (mēn),USA pronunciation v., meant, mean•ing. v.t. - to have in mind as one's purpose or intention;
intend:I meant to compliment you on your work. - to intend for a particular purpose, destination, etc.:They were meant for each other.
- to intend to express or indicate:What do you mean by "liberal''?
- to have as its sense or signification;
signify:The word "freedom'' means many things to many people. - to bring, cause, or produce as a result:This bonus means that we can take a trip to Florida.
- to have (certain intentions) toward a person:He didn't mean you any harm.
- to have the value of;
assume the importance of:Money means everything to them. She means the world to him.
v.i. - to be minded or disposed;
have intentions:Beware, she means ill, despite her solicitous manner. - Idiomsmean well, to have good intentions;
try to be kind or helpful:Her constant queries about your health must be tiresome, but I'm sure she means well.
- bef. 900; Middle English menen, Old English mǣnan; cognate with German meinen, Dutch meenen
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged contemplate. See intend.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged destine, foreordain.
- 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged denote, indicate; import, imply, connote.
mean2 (mēn),USA pronunciation adj., -er, -est. - offensive, selfish, or unaccommodating;
nasty;
malicious:a mean remark; He gets mean when he doesn't get his way. - small-minded or ignoble:mean motives.
- penurious, stingy, or miserly:a person who is mean about money.
- inferior in grade, quality, or character:no mean reward.
- low in status, rank, or dignity:mean servitors.
- of little importance or consequence:mean little details.
- unimposing or shabby:a mean abode.
- small, humiliated, or ashamed:You should feel mean for being so stingy.
- Informal Termsin poor physical condition.
- troublesome or vicious;
bad-tempered:a mean old horse. - Slang Termsskillful or impressive:He blows a mean trumpet.
- bef. 900; Middle English mene, aphetic variant (see y-) of imene, Old English gemǣne; cognate with Dutch gemeen, German gemein common, Gothic gamains in common; compare common
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged contemptible, despicable. Mean, low, base, sordid, and vile all refer to ignoble characteristics worthy of dislike, contempt, or disgust. Mean suggests pettiness and small-mindedness:to take a mean advantage.Low suggests coarseness and vulgarity:low company.Base suggests selfish cowardice or moral depravity:base motives.Sordid suggests a wretched uncleanness, or sometimes an avariciousness without dignity or moral scruples:a sordid slum; sordid gain.Vile suggests disgusting foulness or repulsiveness:vile insinuation; a vile creature.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged niggardly, close, tight, parsimonious, illiberal, ungenerous, selfish. See stingy.
- 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged common, humble; undignified, plebeian.
- 6.See corresponding entry in Unabridged inconsequential, insignificant, petty, paltry, little, poor, wretched.
- 7.See corresponding entry in Unabridged squalid, poor.
mean3 (mēn),USA pronunciation n. - Usually, means. (used with a sing. or pl. v.) an agency, instrument, or method used to attain an end:The telephone is a means of communication. There are several means of solving the problem.
- means:
- available resources, esp. money:They lived beyond their means.
- considerable financial resources;
riches:a man of means.
- something that is midway between two extremes;
something intermediate:to seek a mean between cynicism and blind faith. - [Math.]
- a quantity having a value intermediate between the values of other quantities;
an average, esp. the arithmetic mean. - either the second or third term in a proportion of four terms.
- Statisticsexpected value. See mathematical expectation (def. 2).
- Philosophy[Logic.]the middle term in a syllogism.
- by all means:
- Idioms(in emphasis) certainly:Go, by all means.
- Idiomsat any cost;
without fail.
- Idiomsby any means, in any way;
at all:We were not surprised at the news by any means. - Idiomsby means of, with the help of;
by the agency of;
through:We crossed the stream by means of a log. - Idiomsby no means, in no way;
not at all:The prize is by no means certain.
adj. - occupying a middle position or an intermediate place, as in kind, quality, degree, or time:a mean speed;a mean course;the mean annual rainfall.
- Latin mediānus; see median
- Middle French meen, variant of meien
- Middle English mene 1300–50
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