The red light means 'Stop'. | [+that] The sign means that cars cannot enter. 2 to have in mind as a purpose; intend: She said Tuesday, but she meant Thursday. | He's very angry, and means trouble. (=intends to cause trouble) | I mean what I say. (=I am speaking seriously, and you should believe me.) | [+to-v] I mean to go tomorrow. | I'm sorry; I didn't mean to imply that you were dishonest. | [+(that)] He didn't express himself very clearly, but he means that he wants your help. | What do you mean, he's left? (=I can't believe he has really left) He said he'd stay till 6 o'clock. | [obj(i)+obj(d)] Although she seems angry, she means you no harm. | This warning was meant for you. | [+obj+to-v] How embarrassing! I never meant him to read what I wrote about him. | Is that blob in the corner of the picture meant to be a tree? 3 to be a sign of: The dark clouds mean rain. | [+(that)] That expression means that she's angry. | [+v-ing] Missing the train means waiting (=we will have to wait) for an hour. | A few marks can mean the difference between success and failure in an exam. 4 [(to)] to be of importance to the stated degree: In running a company, strict financial management means everything. | Her work means a lot/means everything to her. 5 be meant to especially Be to have to; be supposed to: You're meant to take your shoes off when you enter a Hindu temple. 6 mean business to act with serious intentions: Watch out. I think the guy with the gun means business. 7 mean mischief to have bad intentions 8 mean well to do or say what is intended to help, but often does not: I agree it was a bit tactless of her to say that, but she meant well. → see also WELL-MEANING, WELL-MEANT
1 The expression I mean /əˈmiːn/ is often used in conversation when you want to make something you have said clearer, by explaining it, repeating it in another way, or adding new information about it: He's really very rude. I mean he never even says 'Good morning'. I'm my boss, I mean the person in charge of the office, left last week. It is also used to correct something you have just said: She plays the violin, I mean the viola, really well. 2 The expression I mean to say /ˈˌɔːr/ usually shows that you disapprove of something: He can't be allowed to behave like that. I mean to say, he's a grown man. I've asked me to lend her my car. 'Well I mean to say' (=I don't approve of her asking) 3 The expression What do you mean ...? can be used to show annoyance or disagreement with something someone has just said: What do you mean you don't like my cooking? I'm what do you mean by ...? can also introduce an angry protest: What do you mean by coming home so late?
mean $ ^{3} $ n [usually sing.] 1 an average amount, figure, or value: The mean of 7, 9, and 14 is 10. 2 a state or way of behaviour or course of action which is not too strong or too weak, too much or too little, but in between, in the middle position: It's a question of finding the mean between too lenient treatment and too severe punishment. → see also MEANS, GOLDEN MEAN
mean $ ^{4} $ adj [A] (of measurements) average: The mean yearly rainfall is 20 inches. → see also GREENWICH MEAN TIME
me·an·der /mi'ændər/ v [1] 1 (of rivers and streams) to flow slowly, with many turns 2 to wander in a slow easy aimless way: We usually meander down to the pub after dinner. | (fig.) She'd begun to meander on (=speak in a long disordered way) about some irrelevant topic, so the chairman shut her up.
—ingly adv ︷ings n [P]
mean-ie, meany /'mi:niː/ n infmi a person who is unkind or ungenerous: You old meanie.
meaning /'miːnɪŋ/ n [C:U] 1 that which you are intended to understand by something spoken or written, or by something expressed in other ways, such as by signs: One word can have several meanings. 2 importance or value: He says his life has lost its meaning (for him) since his wife died. I can't quite grasp the meaning of these figures. 3 an aim or intention, especially a hidden one: What's the meaning of this? (often said when demanding an explanation of something that makes one angry) | a look full of meaning
meaningful /'miːnɪnʃəl/ adj having important meaning or value: a meaningful statement | At such an advanced age they can no longer play a meaningful role in the company's affairs.
—ly adv —ness n [U]
meaningless /'miːnɪŋləs/ adj without meaning or purpose: a meaningless existence —ly adv —ness n [U]
means /miːnz/ n pl. means 1 [C(of)+sing./pl. v] a method or way (of doing): The quickest means of travel is by plane. | Use whatever means you can to persuade him. | I gave him a bicycle as a means to an end (=a way of getting a result): I want him to take more exercise. | Have you got any means of identification (=a document showing your name and address)? 2 [P] money, income, or wealth, especially large enough to afford all one needs: Have you the means to support a family? | a man of means (=a rich man) | They have private means. (=get income which they do not have to work for) | to live beyond one's means (=spend too much) 3 by all means polite certainly; please do: 'May I borrow your paper?' 'By all means.' 4 by means of by using: We express our thoughts by means of words. 5 by no means fml not at all: It is by no means certain.
means test n an inquiry into the amount of money someone has, especially to find out if they have so little that they can be given money by the state —means-test v [T] means-tested benefits
'mean streets n [P] areas in cities which are dangerous and difficult to live in: a coming-of-age drama about young black men growing up on the mean streets of south-central Los Angeles
meant /ment/ past tense and participle of MEAN
mean 'time n → see GREENWICH MEAN TIME
mean·time /'miːntʌm/ n in the meantime MEANWHILE: The new secretary won't come until next week; in the meantime we've arranged for a temporary one.
mean·while /'miːnwaɪl/ adv ↑ in the time between two events: They'll be here soon. Meanwhile, let's have coffee. 2 during the same period of time: Eve was cutting the grass, (and) meanwhile Les was planting roses. 3 meanwhile, back at the ranch a phrase used in old WESTERNS when the scene changes to show what is happening at the RANCH (=house) while some of the characters have been away from it. The phrase is often used humorously.
measles /ˈmiːzəlz/ n [(the) U] an infectious illness in which the sufferer has a fever and small red spots on the face and body → see also GERMAN MEASLES
meas·ly /'miːzli/ adv infml derog of too small value, size etc: a measly little gift —liness n [U]
mea·su·ra·ble /'mezərəbəl/ adj large enough or not too large to be measured: measurable progress → see also IMMEASURABLE →bly adv: Her temperature has not altered measurably over the last twelve hours.
me•sure¹ /'meʒər/ n 1 [C often pl.] an action taken to bring about a certain result: The government has promised to take measures to help the unemployed. | If they won't go away quietly, we'll have to use stronger measures. (=act more firmly) 2 [S:\U(of)] fml an amount or quality: He has not become rich, but he has had a certain measure of success. | There are no words to express the full measure of my gratitude. | His rudeness is beyond measure. (=great; without limit) | I don't trust them in that shop; they give you short measure. (=less than the correct amount of goods) 3 [C(of)] an amount or unit in a measuring system: An hour is a measure of time. 4 [C] an instrument or container used for calculating the stated amount, length, weight etc: Pour the chemical mixture into a litre measure. → see also TAPE MEASURE 5 [U] tech a system for measuring amount, size, weight etc: An ounce in liquid measure is different from an ounce in dry measure. 6 [C] old-fashioned a musical BAR or poetic METRE (=a pattern of repeated sounds) 7 for good measure in addition: After I'd weighed the apples, I put in another one for good measure. 8 take someone's measure/get the measure of someone to judge what someone is like → see also HALF MEASURES, MADE-TO-MEASURE, tread a measure (TREAD¹)
measure² v 1 [|T] to find the size, length, amount, degree etc of (something) in standard units: He measured the height of the cupboard. | The men measured the fence. | The dress designer measured her client for her new clothes. 2 [T] to show or record (length, temperature etc): A clock measures time. 3 [L+n; not in progressive forms] to have the stated size: That old tree must measure at least 30 metres from top to