Definition of mean Mean

/miˈn/ - [meen] - mean

We found 72 definitions of mean from 7 different sources.

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What does mean mean?

WordNet

WordNet by Princeton University

Noun

Plural: means

mean - an average of n numbers computed by adding some function of the numbers and dividing by some function of n
  mean value
  norm, average a standard or model or pattern regarded as typical; "the current middle-class norm of two children per family"
  statistics a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters
  arithmetic mean, expected value, first moment, expectation the sum of the values of a random variable divided by the number of values
  geometric mean the mean of n numbers expressed as the n-th root of their product

Verb

means, meaning, meant  

mean - mean or intend to express or convey; "You never understand what I mean!"; "what do his words intend?"
  intend
  convey make known; pass on, of information; "She conveyed the message to me"
  symbolise, symbolize, typify, stand for, represent represent or identify by using a symbol; use symbols; "The poet symbolizes love in this poem"; "These painters believed that artists should symbolize"
  signify convey or express a meaning; "These words mean nothing to me!"; "What does his strange behavior signify?"
  import, spell transfer (electronic data) into a database or document
  aim propose or intend; "I aim to arrive at noon"
  aim, drive, get propose or intend; "I aim to arrive at noon"
mean - denote or connote; "`maison' means `house' in French"; "An example sentence would show what this word means"
  intend, signify, stand for
  denote, refer have as a meaning; "`multi-' denotes `many' "
  signify convey or express a meaning; "These words mean nothing to me!"; "What does his strange behavior signify?"
mean - destine or designate for a certain purpose; "These flowers were meant for you"
  destine, intend, designate, specify decree or designate beforehand; "She was destined to become a great pianist"
mean - have a specified degree of importance; "My ex-husband means nothing to me"; "Happiness means everything"

Adjective

mean, meaner, meanest

mean - (used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity; "a mean person"; "he left a miserly tip"
  mingy, miserly, tight
  stingy, ungenerous unwilling to spend; "she practices economy without being stingy"; "an ungenerous response to the appeal for funds"
mean - excellent; "famous for a mean backhand"
  skilled having or showing or requiring special skill; "only the most skilled gymnasts make an Olympic team"; "a skilled surgeon has many years of training and experience"; "a skilled reconstruction of her damaged elbow"; "a skilled trade"
= synonym
= antonym
= related word

Wiktionary Wiktionary dictionary logo

  • mean (Noun)
    An intermediate step or intermediate steps.
  • mean (Noun)
    Something which is intermediate or in the middle; an intermediate value or range of values; a medium.
  • mean (Noun)
    Any 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 .
  • mean (Noun)
    Either of the two numbers in the middle of a conventionally presented proportion, as 2 and 3 in 2=6.
  • mean (Verb)
    To intend.
  • mean (Verb)
    I didn't mean to knock your tooth out.
  • mean (Verb)
    I mean to go to Baddeck this summer.
  • mean (Verb)
    I meant to take the car in for a smog check, but it slipped my mind.
  • mean (Verb)
    Don't be angry; she meant well.
  • mean (Verb)
    Actually this desk was meant for the subeditor.
  • mean (Verb)
    Man was not meant to question such things.
  • mean (Verb)
    To convey meaning.
  • mean (Verb)
    I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean.
  • mean (Verb)
    The sky is red this morning—does that mean we're in for a storm?
  • mean (Verb)
    A term should be included if it's likely that someone would run accross it and want to know what it means. This in turn leads to the somewhat more formal guideline of including a term if it is attested and idiomatic.
  • mean (Verb)
    What does this hieroglyph mean?
  • mean (Verb)
    Does she really mean what she said to him last night?
  • mean (Verb)
    Say what you mean and mean what you say.
  • mean (Verb)
    One faltering step means certain death.
  • mean (Verb)
    Quote-news.
  • mean (Verb)
    My home life means a lot to me.
  • mean (Verb)
    To complain, lament.
  • mean (Verb)
    To pity; to comfort.
  • mean (Adjective)
    Common; general.
  • mean (Adjective)
    Of a common or low origin, grade, or quality; common; humble.
  • mean (Adjective)
    Low in quality or degree; inferior; poor; shabby.
  • mean (Adjective)
    Without dignity of mind; destitute of honour; low-minded; spiritless; base.
  • mean (Adjective)
    Niggardly; penurious; miserly; stingy.
  • mean (Adjective)
    Of little value or account; low in worth or estimation; worthy of little or no regard; contemptible; despicable.
  • mean (Adjective)
    Disobliging; pettily offensive or unaccommodating; small.
  • mean (Adjective)
    Selfish; acting without consideration of others; unkind.
  • mean (Adjective)
    Causing or intending to cause intentional harm; bearing ill will towards another; cruel; malicious.
  • mean (Adjective)
    Powerful; fierce; harsh; damaging.
  • mean (Adjective)
    Accomplished with great skill; deft; hard to compete with.
  • mean (Adjective)
    Having the mean see noun below as its value.
  • mean (Adjective)
    Middling in quality or excellence; moderately good, tolerable.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

  • mean (v. t.)
    To have in the mind, as a purpose, intention, etc.; to intend; to purpose; to design; as, what do you mean to do ?
  • mean (v. t.)
    To signify; to indicate; to import; to denote.
  • mean (v. i.)
    To have a purpose or intention.
  • mean (superl.)
    Destitute of distinction or eminence; common; low; vulgar; humble.
  • mean (superl.)
    Wanting dignity of mind; low-minded; base; destitute of honor; spiritless; as, a mean motive.
  • mean (superl.)
    Of little value or account; worthy of little or no regard; contemptible; despicable.
  • mean (superl.)
    Of poor quality; as, mean fare.
  • mean (superl.)
    Penurious; stingy; close-fisted; illiberal; as, mean hospitality.
  • mean (a.)
    Occupying a middle position; middle; being about midway between extremes.
  • mean (a.)
    Intermediate in excellence of any kind.
  • mean (a.)
    Average; having an intermediate value between two extremes, or between the several successive values of a variable quantity during one cycle of variation; as, mean distance; mean motion; mean solar day.
  • mean (n.)
    That which is mean, or intermediate, between two extremes of place, time, or number; the middle point or place; middle rate or degree; mediocrity; medium; absence of extremes or excess; moderation; measure.
  • mean (n.)
    A quantity having an intermediate value between several others, from which it is derived, and of which it expresses the resultant value; usually, unless otherwise specified, it is the simple average, formed by adding the quantities together and dividing by their number, which is called an arithmetical mean. A geometrical mean is the square root of the product of the quantities.
  • mean (n.)
    That through which, or by the help of which, an end is attained; something tending to an object desired; intermediate agency or measure; necessary condition or coagent; instrument.
  • mean (n.)
    Hence: Resources; property, revenue, or the like, considered as the condition of easy livelihood, or an instrumentality at command for effecting any purpose; disposable force or substance.
  • mean (n.)
    A part, whether alto or tenor, intermediate between the soprano and base; a middle part.
  • mean (n.)
    Meantime; meanwhile.
  • mean (n.)
    A mediator; a go-between.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

  • mean
    To have in mind as one's purpose or intention.
  • mean
    Characterized by malice.
  • mean
    Having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality.
  • mean
    In mathematics, a measure of the "middle" of a data set.
  • mean
    To assign for a specific end, use, or purpose; to design or destine.
  • mean
    To have as a logical consequence.
  • mean
    To intend to express or convey.

Sailor's Word-BookThe Sailor's Word-Book ⛵

  • mean
    As a general term implies the medium, but a mean of bad observations can never make a good one.
  • mean
    That shown by a clock or watch when compensated for the unequal progress of the sun in the ecliptic, and which thence forms an equable measure of time.--To take time is for an assistant to note the time by a chronometer at each instant that the observer calls "stop," on effecting his astronomical observation for altitude of a heavenly body, or for contact with the sun and moon, or moon and star.

Wikipedia Wiktionary dictionary logo

  • statistics
    The Mean is a measure from mathematics or from statistics. If people do many different measurements, they will get many different results. Those results have a certain distribution, and they can also be centered around an "average" value. This average value is what mathematicians call arithmetic mean.

    Mean can also stand for expected value.

    Problems with the arithmetic mean.

    The problem with using the mean is that the information about how the values are distributed is lost.

    Solving the problem.

    This is different to the Median. The median is the number that divides all the samples in such a way that half of the samples are below it, and the other half above.

    The modus or Mode is the number with the greatest number of samples, or observations.

Part of speech

🔤
  • mean, verb, present, 1st person singular of mean (infinitive).
  • mean, verb (infinitive).
  • mean, noun, singular of means.
  • mean, adjective.

Pronunciation

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Word frequency

Mean is...

Very rare
Rare
Normal
Common
Very Common
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Common

Sign Language

mean in sign language
Sign language - letter M Sign language - letter M Sign language - letter E Sign language - letter E Sign language - letter A Sign language - letter A Sign language - letter N Sign language - letter N

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