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know the meaning of (something)

idiom

Definition of know the meaning of (something)

: to understand (something) because one has experienced it
  • I know the meaning of loneliness.
—often used in negative statements
  • Those people don't know the meaning of hard work.
 —often used in an exaggerated way to make a forceful statement
  • He doesn't know the meaning of fear.
  • I'll never stop trying. I don't know the meaning of the word "failure."

Word by Word Definitions

know play

  1. : to perceive directly : have direct cognition of

  2. : to have understanding of

  3. : to recognize the nature of : discern

  1. : knowledge

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meaning play

  1. : the thing one intends to convey especially by language : purport

  2. : the thing that is conveyed especially by language : import

  3. : something meant or intended : aim

  1. : conveying or intended to convey meaning : significant, meaningful

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something play

  1. : some indeterminate or unspecified thing

  2. : some indeterminate amount more than a specified number

  3. : a person or thing of consequence

  1. : in some degree : somewhat

  2. used as an intensive giving adverbial force to an adjective

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