Mean: meaning, definitions and examples

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mean

[miːn ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in behavior

Intend to convey or indicate

Synonyms

imply, intend, signify.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
mean	Used when explaining the definition or sense of something. What do you mean by that? I didn’t mean to hurt you.
intend	Used when talking about having a purpose or goal. I intend to finish my project by tomorrow. He didn’t intend any harm.
signify	Used when indicating or being a sign of something. Often used in more formal or academic contexts. Rising temperatures signify climate change. The red flag signifies danger.
imply	Used when suggesting or hinting at something indirectly. Are you implying that I’m lying? Her tone seemed to imply that she was upset.

Examples of usage

I didn't mean to offend you
What do you mean by that?

^{Context #2 | Noun}

average

The average of a set of values

Synonyms

average, median, mode.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
mean	Used in everyday conversation to imply rudeness or unkindness. It's also a term in mathematics where it represents the average value of a set of numbers. She said some really mean things to him. To find the mean, add up all the numbers and then divide by the count.
average	Commonly describes something typical or usual in everyday life. In mathematics, it's calculated by adding up a set of values and dividing by the number of values. He's just an average student, neither top of the class nor at the bottom. The average of 4, 8, and 6 is 6.
median	Primarily used in statistics and mathematics. It refers to the middle value in a list of numbers arranged in ascending or descending order. The median salary in the company is $50,000, meaning half earn more and half earn less. To determine the median, arrange the numbers and find the middle one.
mode	Mainly used in statistics to identify the most frequently occurring value in a set of data. The mode of the set {2, 4, 4, 6, 7} is 4, as it appears most often. In a list of favorite ice cream flavors, the mode would be the flavor chosen by most people.

Examples of usage

The mean of 5, 7, and 10 is 7.3

^{Context #3 | Verb}

involving

Intend to convey or refer to (a particular thing)

Synonyms

indicate, refer to, signify.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
mean	When stating the importance, value, or worth of something. This gift means a lot to me ; Friendship means everything
signify	When expressing the importance, representation, or indication of something, often in a more formal or symbolic way. The broken mirror signifies bad luck in some cultures ; A nod can signify agreement
indicate	When pointing out, showing, or suggesting something often based on evidence or signals. The red light indicates a problem with the engine ; The survey results indicate a high level of satisfaction
refer to	When mentioning or alluding to specific information, people, or documents. In his speech, he referred to several historical events ; The term 'biodiversity' refers to the variety of life forms

Examples of usage

The word 'run' can mean different things in different contexts

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word originates from the Old English word 'mæne,' which means common or shared.
In mathematics, 'mean' represents the average, a concept derived from the Latin 'mediānus,' which means 'middle'.
Over time, the meaning of 'mean' shifted to include unkindness, reflecting societal changes in language use.

Psychology

Being unkind often stems from insecurity, where individuals attempt to elevate themselves by putting others down.
Research shows that bullying and mean behavior can lead to long-lasting emotional effects on both the victim and the aggressor.
Studies indicate that children who exhibit mean behavior may be mimicking dynamics they observe in their home environments.

Pop Culture

In the popular film 'Mean Girls,' the social dynamics of teenage girls are explored, highlighting the impact of being unkind.
The term 'mean' is frequently used in songs and lyrics to describe hurtful relationships or emotional struggles.
Memes and social media often use 'mean' humorously to comment on everyday situations that showcase unkind behavior.

Mathematics

The arithmetic mean is calculated by adding a set of numbers and dividing by the count of those numbers.
The concept of mean helps in fields like statistics, where it is crucial for analyzing data patterns.
In addition to arithmetic mean, there are other types of means, such as geometric mean and harmonic mean, used for different applications.

Literature

In many stories, the conflict often arises from a character's mean behavior, serving as a catalyst for plot development.
Famous literary figures like Ebenezer Scrooge in 'A Christmas Carol' demonstrate the transformation from mean-spiritedness to kindness.
Poets like Robert Frost often explore themes of human nature, including the capacity for cruelty and kindness.

Translations

Translations of the word "mean" in other languages:

🇵🇹 significar

🇮🇳 मतलब होना

🇩🇪 bedeuten

🇮🇩 berarti

🇺🇦 означати

🇵🇱 oznaczać

🇯🇵 意味する

🇫🇷 signifier

🇪🇸 significar

🇹🇷 anlamına gelmek

🇰🇷 의미하다

🇸🇦 يعني

🇨🇿 znamenat

🇸🇰 znamenať

🇨🇳 意思是

🇸🇮 pomeniti

🇮🇸 þýða

🇰🇿 мағынасы

🇬🇪 ნიშნავს

🇦🇿 mənasını vermək

🇲🇽 significar

Word Frequency Rank

With position #421, this word is vital for basic English fluency. It appears very frequently in everyday language and should be among the first words you learn and actively use.

...
418 building
419 generally
420 says
421 mean
422 probably
423 authority
424 usually
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