mean [1] (means 3rd person present) (meaning present participle) (meant past tense & past participle ) (VERB USES)
Please look at category 19 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 verb If you want to know what a word, code, signal, or gesture means, you want to know what it refers to or what its message is.
no cont
In modern Welsh, `glas' means `blue'... V n
The red signal means you can shoot. V that
2 verb If you ask someone what they mean , you are asking them to explain exactly what or who they are referring to or what they are intending to say.
no cont
Do you mean me?... V n
I think he means that he does not want this marriage to turn out like his friend's. V that
3 verb If something means something to you, it is important to you in some way.
no cont
The idea that she witnessed this shameful incident meant nothing to him... V amount to n
It would mean a lot to them to win. it V amount to-inf, Also V amount
4 verb If one thing means another, it shows that the second thing exists or is true.
no cont
An enlarged prostate does not necessarily mean cancer... V n
Just because he has a beard doesn't necessarily mean he's a hippy. V that
5 verb If one thing means another, the first thing leads to the second thing happening.
no cont
It would almost certainly mean the end of NATO... V n
The change will mean that the country no longer has full diplomatic relations with other states. V that
6 verb If doing one thing means doing another, it involves doing the second thing.
Managing well means communicating well. V -ing
7 verb If you say that you mean what you are saying, you are telling someone that you are serious about it and are not joking, exaggerating, or just being polite.
no cont
He says you're fired if you're not back at work on Friday. And I think he meant it... V n
8 verb If you say that someone meantto do something, you are saying that they did it deliberately.
no cont
(=intend)
I didn't mean to hurt you... V to-inf
I can see why you believed my letters were threatening but I never meant them to be. V n to-inf
9 verb If you say that someone did notmean any harm, offence, or disrespect, you are saying that they did not intend to upset or offend people or to cause problems, even though they may in fact have done so.
no cont, with brd-neg
(=intend)
I'm sure he didn't mean any harm... V n
10 verb If you mean to do something, you intend or plan to do it.
no cont
(=intend)
Summer is the perfect time to catch up on the new books you meant to read... V to-inf
11 verb If you say that something was meantto happen, you believe that it was made to happen by God or fate, and did not just happen by chance.
usu passive, no cont
John was constantly reassuring me that we were meant to be together. be V-ed to-inf
12 You say `I mean' when making clearer something that you have just said.
SPOKEN
I mean phrase PHR with cl
It was his idea. Gordon's, I mean...
13 You can use `I mean' to introduce a statement, especially one that justifies something that you have just said.
SPOKEN
I mean phrase PHR with cl
I'm sure he wouldn't mind. I mean, I was the one who asked him...
14 You say I mean when correcting something that you have just said.
SPOKEN
I mean phrase PHR with cl
It was law or classics<endash>I mean English or classics.
15 If you know what it means to do something, you know everything that is involved in a particular activity or experience, especially the effect that it has on you.
know what it means to do sth/know what sth means phrase Vs inflect, oft PHR to-inf
I know what it means to lose a child under such tragic circumstances.
16 If a name, word, or phrase means something to you, you have heard it before and you know what it refers to.
mean something to sb phrase V inflects, PHR n
`Oh, Gairdner,' he said, as if that meant something to him...
17 If you say that someone means well, you mean they are trying to be kind and helpful, even though they might be causing someone problems or upsetting them.
mean well phrase V inflects
I know you mean well, but I can manage by myself.
18 You use `you mean' in a question to check that you have understood what someone has said.
you mean phrase PHR with cl
What accident? You mean Christina's?..., `What if I had said no?' `About the apartment, you mean?'
19
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meaning
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means
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meant
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to mean business
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business
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if you know what I mean
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know
