Main Entry:

¹mean

Pronunciation:

\ˈmēn\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

meant \ˈment\ ; mean·ing \ˈmē-niŋ\

Etymology:

Middle English menen, from Old English mǣnan; akin to Old High German meinen to have in mind, Old Church Slavic měniti to mention

Date:

before 12th century

transitive verb1 a: to have in the mind as a purpose : intend <she means to win> —sometimes used interjectionally with I, chiefly in informal speech for emphasis <he throws, I mean, hard> or to introduce a phrase restating the point of a preceding phrase <we try to answer what we can, but I mean we're not God — Bobbie Ann Mason> b: to design for or destine to a specified purpose or future <I was meant to teach>2: to serve or intend to convey, show, or indicate : signify <a red sky means rain>3: to have importance to the degree of <health means everything>4: to direct to a particular individualintransitive verb: to have an intended purpose <he means well>

— mean·er \ˈmē-nər\ noun

— mean business

: to be in earnest