mean

/mi:n/

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The word "mean" can be a bit tricky because it has several meanings and uses in English. Let's break it down in a way that's easy to understand.

Basic Meanings of "Mean"

1. As an Adjective:

   • Unkind or Cruel: When we say someone is "mean," we often mean they are unkind or do not share with others. For example, "He is a mean person because he never helps anyone."
   • Small in Amount: It can also mean something that is very small or not worth much. For example, "She left a mean tip at the restaurant; it was only a few cents."
   • Poor Quality: Sometimes it describes something that is of low quality or very simple. For example, "They lived in a mean hut."
   • Average: In mathematics, "mean" refers to the average of a set of numbers. For example, "The mean of 3, 4, and 5 is 4."

2. As a Noun:

   • Average Value: In math, the mean is the average. For instance, "The mean of the scores in the class was 75."

3. As a Verb:

   • To Intend: When you say you "mean" something, it means that you intend to convey a certain message. For example, "I meant to call you yesterday."
   • To Denote: It can also mean to signify something. For example, "In French, 'maison' means 'house.'"

Usage Instructions

• When using "mean" as an adjective to describe a person's character, you can say: "She was very mean to her friends."
• When referring to small amounts, you might say: "The donation was mean compared to what others gave."
• In a mathematical context, you can say: "To find the mean, add all the numbers together and divide by how many numbers there are."

Advanced Usage

• "Mean" in Literature: You might encounter "mean" in literature to describe a character's lack of virtue, such as "He took mean advantage of her kindness."
• Statistical Context: In advanced math or statistics, you might discuss the mean, median, and mode when analyzing data.

Word Variants

• Meaner: Comparative form of mean (more mean).
• Meanest: Superlative form of mean (most mean).
• Meanness: The noun form referring to the quality of being mean.

Different Meanings

1. Mean (noun): The average value in mathematics.
2. Mean (verb): To intend or signify something.

Synonyms

• For mean (as in unkind): cruel, harsh, spiteful.
• For mean (as in average): average, median, norm.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• "Mean business": This means to be serious about what one is saying or doing. For example, "When I said I would help, I meant business."
• "Mean to": This phrase implies intention. For example, "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

Example Sentences

• Adjective: "It was mean of him to laugh at her mistake."
• Noun: "The mean of the data set is 50."
• Verb: "What do you mean by that comment?"

Summary

"Mean" is a versatile word in English that can describe unkindness, small amounts, or average values, among other things.

Academic

Adjective

1. of no value or worth
   • I was caught in the bastardly traffic
2. (used of sums of money) so small in amount as to deserve contempt
3. (used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity
   • a mean person
   • he left a miserly tip
4. marked by poverty befitting a beggar
   • a beggarly existence in the slums
   • a mean hut
5. excellent
   • famous for a mean backhand
6. having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality
   • that liberal obedience without which your army would be a base rabble- Edmund Burke
   • taking a mean advantage
   • chok'd with ambition of the meaner sort- Shakespeare
   • something essentially vulgar and meanspirited in politics
7. characterized by malice
   • a hateful thing to do
   • in a mean mood
8. approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value
   • the average income in New England is below that of the nation
   • of average height for his age
   • the mean annual rainfall

Noun

1. an average of n numbers computed by adding some function of the numbers and dividing by some function of n

Verb

1. destine or designate for a certain purpose
   • These flowers were meant for you
2. intend to refer to
   • I'm thinking of good food when I talk about France
   • Yes, I meant you when I complained about people who gossip!
3. have a specified degree of importance
   • My ex-husband means nothing to me
   • Happiness means everything
4. have in mind as a purpose
   • I mean no harm
   • I only meant to help you
   • She didn't think to harm me
   • We thought to return early that night
5. denote or connote
   • `maison' means `house' in French
   • An example sentence would show what this word means
6. have as a logical consequence
   • The water shortage means that we have to stop taking long showers
7. mean or intend to express or convey
   • You never understand what I mean!
   • what do his words intend?

Synonyms

• bastardly
• beggarly
• mingy
• miserly
• tight
• base
• meanspirited
• hateful
• average
• mean
• mean value
• think of
• have in mind
• intend
• think
• signify
• stand for
• entail
• imply