mean 1

English - English

Definition of mean 1 in English English dictionary

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. I know what it means to lose a child under such tragic circumstances

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You say I mean when correcting something that you have just said. It was law or classics -- I mean English or classics

If a name, word, or phrase means something to you, you have heard it before and you know what it refers to. `Oh, Gairdner,' he said, as if that meant something to him

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If you say that something was meant to happen, you believe that it was made to happen by God or fate, and did not just happen by chance. John was constantly reassuring me that we were meant to be together

If one thing means another, the first thing leads to the second thing happening. It would almost certainly mean the end of NATO The change will mean that the country no longer has full diplomatic relations with other states

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. I know you mean well, but I can manage by myself

If something means something to you, it is important to you in some way. The idea that she witnessed this shameful incident meant nothing to him It would mean a lot to them to win

If you say that someone meant to do something, you are saying that they did it deliberately. I didn't mean to hurt you I can see why you believed my letters were threatening but I never meant them to be. = intend

You can use `I mean' to introduce a statement, especially one that justifies something that you have just said. I'm sure he wouldn't mind. I mean, I was the one who asked him

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. Do you mean me? I think he means that he does not want this marriage to turn out like his friend's

to mean business: see business if you know what I mean: see know see also meaning, means, meant

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. He says you're fired if you're not back at work on Friday. And I think he meant it

If one thing means another, it shows that the second thing exists or is true. An enlarged prostate does not necessarily mean cancer Just because he has a beard doesn't necessarily mean he's a hippy

You say `I mean' when making clearer something that you have just said. It was his idea. Gordon's, I mean

If doing one thing means doing another, it involves doing the second thing. Managing well means communicating well

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. In modern Welsh, `glas' means `blue' The red signal means you can shoot

If you mean to do something, you intend or plan to do it. Summer is the perfect time to catch up on the new books you meant to read = intend

If you say that someone did not mean 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. I'm sure he didn't mean any harm = intend

You use `you mean' in a question to check that you have understood what someone has said. What accident? You mean Christina's? `What if I had said no?' `About the apartment, you mean?'