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 verb 1 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