mean

[ meen ]

/ min /

noun

Usually means. (used with a singular or plural verb) 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, especially 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.

Mathematics.

a quantity having a value intermediate between the values of other quantities; an average, especially the arithmetic mean.
either the second or third term in a proportion of four terms.

Statistics. expected value. See mathematical expectation(def 2).

Logic. the middle term in a syllogism.

adjective

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.

Idioms for mean

by all means,

(in emphasis) certainly: Go, by all means.
at any cost; without fail.

by any means, in any way; at all: We were not surprised at the news by any means.

by means of, with the help of; by the agency of; through: We crossed the stream by means of a log.

by no means, in no way; not at all: The prize is by no means certain.

Origin of mean

1300–50; Middle English mene < Middle French meen, variant of meien < Latin mediānus; see median

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH mean

mean median

Words nearby mean

mealworm, mealy, mealy bug, mealy-mouthed, mealybug, mean, mean anomaly, mean business, mean calorie, mean cell hemoglobin, mean cell hemoglobin concentration

British Dictionary definitions for by any means (1 of 3)

mean ¹

/ (miːn) /

verb means, meaning or meant (mainly tr)

(may take a clause as object or an infinitive) to intend to convey or express

(may take a clause as object or an infinitive) intend she didn't mean to hurt it

(may take a clause as object) to say or do in all seriousness the boss means what he says about strikes

(often passive often foll by for) to destine or design (for a certain person or purpose) she was meant for greater things

(may take a clause as object) to denote or connote; signify; represent examples help show exactly what a word means

(may take a clause as object) to produce; cause the weather will mean long traffic delays

(may take a clause as object) to foretell; portend those dark clouds mean rain

to have the importance of money means nothing to him

(intr) to have the intention of behaving or acting (esp in the phrases mean well or mean ill)

mean business to be in earnest

Word Origin for mean

Old English mænan; compare Old Saxon mēnian to intend, Dutch meenen

usage for mean

In standard English, mean should not be followed by for when expressing intention: I didn't mean this to happen (not I didn't mean for this to happen)

British Dictionary definitions for by any means (2 of 3)

mean ²

/ (miːn) /

adjective

mainly British miserly, ungenerous, or petty

humble, obscure, or lowly he rose from mean origins to high office

despicable, ignoble, or callous a mean action

poor or shabby mean clothing; a mean abode

informal, mainly US and Canadian bad-tempered; vicious

informal ashamed he felt mean about not letting the children go to the zoo

informal, mainly US unwell; in low spirits

slang excellent; skilful he plays a mean trombone

no mean

of high qualityno mean performer
difficultno mean feat

Derived forms of mean

meanly, adverb meanness, noun

Word Origin for mean

C12: from Old English gemǣne common; related to Old High German gimeini, Latin communis common, at first with no pejorative sense

British Dictionary definitions for by any means (3 of 3)

mean ³

/ (miːn) /

noun

the middle point, state, or course between limits or extremes

moderation

maths

the second and third terms of a proportion, as b and c in a/b = c/d
another name for average (def. 2) See also geometric mean

statistics a statistic obtained by multiplying each possible value of a variable by its probability and then taking the sum or integral over the range of the variable

adjective

intermediate or medium in size, quantity, etc

occurring halfway between extremes or limits; average

Word Origin for mean

C14: via Anglo-Norman from Old French moien, from Late Latin mediānus median

Medical definitions for by any means

mean

[ mēn ]

n.

Something having a position, quality, or condition midway between extremes; a medium.

A number that typifies a set of numbers, such as a geometric mean or an arithmetic mean.

The average value of a set of numbers.

adj.

Occupying a middle or intermediate position between two extremes.

Intermediate in size, extent, quality, time, or degree; medium.

Scientific definitions for by any means

mean

[ mēn ]

A number or quantity having a value that is intermediate between other numbers or quantities, especially an arithmetic mean or average. See more at arithmetic mean.

Either the second or third term of a proportion of four terms. In the proportion 23 = 46, the means are 3 and 4. Compare extreme.

Cultural definitions for by any means (1 of 2)

mean

An average in statistics. (See under “Physical Sciences and Mathematics.”)

Cultural definitions for by any means (2 of 2)

mean

In statistics, an average of a group of numbers or data points. With a group of numbers, the mean is obtained by adding them and dividing by the number of numbers in the group. Thus the mean of five, seven, and twelve is eight (twenty-four divided by three). (Compare median and mode.)

Idioms and Phrases with by any means (1 of 2)

by any means

In any possible way, no matter how, as in By any means I've got to get there. [Late 1400s] Also see by hook or crook; by means of; by no means.

Idioms and Phrases with by any means (2 of 2)

mean

In addition to the idioms beginning with mean

mean business
mean to

, also see under

means

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mean

noun

adjective

Idioms for mean

Origin of mean

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH mean

Words nearby mean

British Dictionary definitions for by any means (1 of 3)

verb means, meaning or meant (mainly tr)

Word Origin for mean

usage for mean

British Dictionary definitions for by any means (2 of 3)

adjective

Derived forms of mean

Word Origin for mean

British Dictionary definitions for by any means (3 of 3)

noun

adjective

Word Origin for mean

Medical definitions for by any means

n.

adj.

Scientific definitions for by any means

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Idioms and Phrases with by any means (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with by any means (2 of 2)

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mean

noun

adjective

Idioms for mean

Origin of mean

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH mean

Words nearby mean

Words related to by any means

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verb means, meaning or meant (mainly tr)

Word Origin for mean

usage for mean

British Dictionary definitions for by any means (2 of 3)

adjective

Derived forms of mean

Word Origin for mean

British Dictionary definitions for by any means (3 of 3)

noun

adjective

Word Origin for mean

Medical definitions for by any means

n.

adj.

Scientific definitions for by any means

Cultural definitions for by any means (1 of 2)

Cultural definitions for by any means (2 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with by any means (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with by any means (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for by any means (1 of 3)