[ { "meta": { "id": "mean:1", "uuid": "57e9c420-c17f-448a-97c4-dd6bc7067bf9", "sort": "131459000", "src": "collegiate", "section": "alpha", "stems": [ "mean", "mean business", "meaned", "meaner", "meaners", "meaning", "meaning business", "means", "means business", "meant", "meant business" ], "offensive": false }, "hom": 1, "hwi": { "hw": "mean", "prs": [ { "mw": "ˈmēn", "sound": { "audio": "mean0001", "ref": "c", "stat": "1" } } ] }, "fl": "verb", "ins": [ { "if": "meant", "prs": [ { "mw": "ˈment", "sound": { "audio": "mean0002", "ref": "c", "stat": "1" } } ] }, { "if": "mean*ing", "prs": [ { "mw": "ˈmē-niŋ", "sound": { "audio": "mean0003", "ref": "c", "stat": "1" } } ] } ], "def": [ { "vd": "transitive verb", "sseq": [ [ [ "sense", { "sn": "1 a", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}to have in the mind as a purpose {bc}{sx|intend||} " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "she {wi}means{/wi} to win" } ] ], [ "uns", [ [ [ "text", "sometimes used interjectionally with {it}I{/it}, chiefly in informal speech for emphasis " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "he throws, I {wi}mean{/wi}, hard" } ] ], [ "text", " or to introduce a phrase restating the point of a preceding phrase " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "we try to answer what we can, but I {wi}mean{/wi} we're not God", "aq": { "auth": "Bobbie Ann Mason" } } ] ] ] ] ] ] } ], [ "sense", { "sn": "b", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}to design for or {d_link|destine|destine} to a specified purpose or future " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "I was {it}meant{/it} to teach" } ] ] ] } ] ], [ [ "sense", { "sn": "2", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}to serve or intend to {d_link|convey|convey}, show, or indicate {bc}{sx|signify||} " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "a red sky {wi}means{/wi} rain" } ] ] ] } ] ], [ [ "sense", { "sn": "3", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}to have importance to the degree of " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "health {wi}means{/wi} everything" } ] ] ] } ] ], [ [ "sense", { "sn": "4", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}to direct to a particular individual " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "His criticism was {it}meant{/it} for all of us." } ] ] ] } ] ] ] }, { "vd": "intransitive verb", "sseq": [ [ [ "sense", { "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}to have an intended purpose " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "he {wi}means{/wi} well" } ] ] ] } ] ] ] } ], "uros": [ { "ure": "mean*er", "prs": [ { "mw": "ˈmē-nər", "sound": { "audio": "mean0004", "ref": "c", "stat": "1" } } ], "fl": "noun" } ], "dros": [ { "drp": "mean business", "def": [ { "sseq": [ [ [ "sense", { "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}to be in earnest" ] ] } ] ] ] } ] } ], "quotes": [ { "t": "Home {qword}meant{/qword} my father, with kind eyes, songs, and tense recitations for my brother and myself.", "aq": { "auth": "Gwendolyn Brooks", "source": "{it}Booklist{/it}", "aqdate": "15 Oct. 1993" } }, { "t": "The season of backyard barbecues and lakeside cookouts is at hand, which in most parts of the country {qword}means{/qword} an orgy of grilled steaks, hamburgers and hot dogs lasting until Labor Day and beyond.", "aq": { "auth": "R. W. Apple, Jr.", "source": "{it}New York Times{/it}", "aqdate": "5 June 2002" } }, { "t": "Even the water in the cave was free from surface contamination … which {qword}meant{/qword} that all the water now in Lechugilla percolated into the cave before the widespread nuclear bomb testing of the 1940s …", "aq": { "auth": "Jon Krakauer", "source": "{it}Air & Space{/it}", "aqdate": "October/November 1995" } } ], "et": [ [ "text", "Middle English {it}menen{/it}, from Old English {it}mǣnan{/it}; akin to Old High German {it}meinen{/it} to have in mind, Old Church Slavonic {it}měniti{/it} to mention" ] ], "date": "before 12th century{ds|t|1|a|}", "shortdef": [ "to have in the mind as a purpose : intend —sometimes used interjectionally with I, chiefly in informal speech for emphasis or to introduce a phrase restating the point of a preceding phrase", "to design for or destine to a specified purpose or future", "to serve or intend to convey, show, or indicate : signify" ] }, { "meta": { "id": "mean:2", "uuid": "33110770-6427-44be-838d-4bc134aff72a", "sort": "131460000", "src": "collegiate", "section": "alpha", "stems": [ "mean", "meaner", "meanest", "meanness", "meannesses" ], "offensive": false }, "hom": 2, "hwi": { "hw": "mean", "prs": [ { "mw": "ˈmēn", "sound": { "audio": "mean0005", "ref": "c", "stat": "1" } } ] }, "fl": "adjective", "def": [ { "sseq": [ [ [ "sense", { "sn": "1", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}lacking distinction or {d_link|eminence|eminence} {bc}{sx|humble||}" ] ] } ] ], [ [ "sense", { "sn": "2", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}lacking in mental {d_link|discrimination|discrimination} {bc}{sx|dull||}" ] ] } ] ], [ [ "sense", { "sn": "3 a", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}of poor, shabby, or inferior quality or status " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "{wi}mean{/wi} city streets" } ] ] ] } ], [ "sense", { "sn": "b", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}worthy of little regard {bc}{sx|contemptible||} " ], [ "uns", [ [ [ "text", "often used in negative constructions as a term of praise " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "no {wi}mean{/wi} feat" } ] ] ] ] ] ] } ] ], [ [ "sense", { "sn": "4", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}lacking dignity or honor {bc}{sx|base||} " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "a {wi}mean{/wi} motive" } ] ] ] } ] ], [ [ "sense", { "sn": "5 a", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}{sx|penurious||}, {sx|stingy||} " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "He's very {wi}mean{/wi} with his money." } ] ] ] } ], [ "sense", { "sn": "b", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}characterized by {d_link|petty|petty} selfishness or malice " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "a {wi}mean{/wi} surly man" } ] ] ] } ], [ "sense", { "sn": "c", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}causing trouble or bother {bc}{sx|vexatious||} " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "a {wi}mean{/wi} soil to work" } ] ] ] } ], [ "sense", { "sn": "d", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}{sx|excellent||}, {sx|effective||} " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "plays a {wi}mean{/wi} trumpet" }, { "t": "a lean, {wi}mean{/wi} athlete" } ] ] ] } ] ], [ [ "sense", { "sn": "6", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}{sx|ashamed||1b} " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "His ready cooperation made me feel {wi}mean{/wi} for what I had said." } ] ] ] } ] ] ] } ], "uros": [ { "ure": "mean*ness", "prs": [ { "mw": "ˈmēn-nəs", "sound": { "audio": "mean0006", "ref": "c", "stat": "1" } } ], "fl": "noun" } ], "syns": [ { "pl": "synonyms", "pt": [ [ "text", "{sc}mean{/sc} {sc}ignoble{/sc} {sc}abject{/sc} {sc}sordid{/sc} mean being below the normal standards of human decency and dignity. {sc}mean{/sc} suggests small-mindedness, ill temper, or cupidity. " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "{it}mean{/it} and petty satire" } ] ], [ "text", " {sc}ignoble{/sc} suggests a loss or lack of some essential high quality of mind or spirit. " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "an {it}ignoble{/it} scramble after material possessions" } ] ], [ "text", " {sc}abject{/sc} may imply degradation, debasement, or servility. " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "{it}abject{/it} poverty" } ] ], [ "text", " {sc}sordid{/sc} is stronger than all of these in stressing physical or spiritual degradation and abjectness. " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "a {it}sordid{/it} story of murder and revenge" } ] ] ] } ], "quotes": [ { "t": "… what you discover is the one with the tail was old {qword}mean{/qword} landlord Mr. prosperous Prospero who wielded without thought of God or man the merry old cat-o'-nine-tails …", "aq": { "auth": "Darryl Pinckney", "source": "{it}Times Literary Supplement{/it}", "aqdate": "23 Aug. 1991" } }, { "t": "For thirty years he had been a ruthless litigator, the {qword}meanest{/qword}, nastiest, and without a doubt one of the most effective courtroom brawlers in Chicago.", "aq": { "auth": "John Grisham", "source": "{it}The Chamber{/it}", "aqdate": "1995" } }, { "t": "Creighton Abrams was a tanker, according to George Patton the {qword}meanest{/qword} tanker the Germans had faced in the whole U.S. Third Army, and he had a temper that matched the fearsome machines he loved.", "aq": { "auth": "Neil Sheehan", "source": "{it}A Bright Shining Lie{/it}", "aqdate": "1988" } }, { "t": "… the streets of Spanish Harlem are {qword}meaner{/qword} than when he left them, and they're pulling him back in.", "aq": { "auth": "Peter Travers", "source": "{it}Rolling Stone{/it}", "aqdate": "9 Dec. 1993" } } ], "et": [ [ "text", "Middle English {it}mene{/it}, from {it}imene{/it} common, shared, from Old English {it}gemǣne{/it}; akin to Old High German {it}gimeini{/it} common, Latin {it}communis{/it} common, {it}munus{/it} service, gift, Sanskrit {it}mayate{/it} he exchanges" ] ], "date": "14th century{ds||1||}", "shortdef": [ "lacking distinction or eminence : humble", "lacking in mental discrimination : dull", "of poor, shabby, or inferior quality or status" ] }, { "meta": { "id": "mean:3", "uuid": "c859bc84-6519-4cfd-8efb-ecda1be22bf8", "sort": "131461000", "src": "collegiate", "section": "alpha", "stems": [ "mean", "meaner", "meanest", "meanness", "meannesses" ], "offensive": false }, "hom": 3, "hwi": { "hw": "mean", "prs": [ { "mw": "ˈmēn", "sound": { "audio": "mean0001", "ref": "c", "stat": "1" } } ] }, "fl": "adjective", "def": [ { "sseq": [ [ [ "sense", { "sn": "1", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}occupying a middle position {bc}{d_link|intermediate|intermediate:1} in space, order, time, kind, or degree" ] ] } ] ], [ [ "sense", { "sn": "2", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}occupying a position about {d_link|midway|midway:1} between extremes" ] ], "sdsense": { "sd": "especially", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}being the {d_link|mean|mean:4} of a set of values {bc}{sx|average||} " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "the {wi}mean{/wi} temperature" } ] ] ] } } ] ], [ [ "sense", { "sn": "3", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}serving as a means {bc}{sx|intermediary||}" ] ] } ] ] ] } ], "syns": [ { "pl": "synonyms", "pt": [ [ "text", "{sc}average{/sc} {sc}mean{/sc} {sc}median{/sc} {sc}norm{/sc} mean something that represents a middle point. {sc}average{/sc} is the quotient obtained by dividing the sum total of a set of figures by the number of figures. " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "scored an {it}average{/it} of 85 on tests" } ] ], [ "text", " {sc}mean{/sc} may be the simple average or it may represent value midway between two extremes. " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "a high of 70° and a low of 50° give a {it}mean{/it} of 60°" } ] ], [ "text", " {sc}median{/sc} applies to the value that represents the point at which there are as many instances above as there are below. " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "{it}average{/it} of a group of persons earning 3, 4, 5, 8, and 10 dollars an hour is 6 dollars, whereas the {it}median{/it} is 5 dollars" } ] ], [ "text", " {sc}norm{/sc} means the average of performance of a significantly large group, class, or grade. " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "scores about the {it}norm{/it} for fifth grade arithmetic" } ] ] ] } ], "et": [ [ "text", "Middle English {it}mene{/it}, from Anglo-French {it}mene, meiene{/it}, from Latin {it}medianus{/it} {ma}{mat|median|}{/ma}" ] ], "date": "14th century{ds||1||}", "shortdef": [ "occupying a middle position : intermediate in space, order, time, kind, or degree", "occupying a position about midway between extremes; especially : being the mean of a set of values : average", "serving as a means : intermediary" ] }, { "meta": { "id": "mean:4", "uuid": "c5b0f659-285b-4265-83e4-ae6a416683f0", "sort": "131462000", "src": "collegiate", "section": "alpha", "stems": [ "by all means", "by means of", "by no means", "mean", "means" ], "offensive": false }, "hom": 4, "hwi": { "hw": "mean", "prs": [ { "mw": "ˈmēn", "sound": { "audio": "mean0001", "ref": "c", "stat": "1" } } ] }, "fl": "noun", "def": [ { "sseq": [ [ [ "pseq", [ [ "sense", { "sn": "1 a (1)", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}something {d_link|intervening|intervene} or intermediate" ] ] } ], [ "sense", { "sn": "(2)", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}a middle point between extremes" ] ] } ] ] ], [ "pseq", [ [ "bs", { "sense": { "sn": "b", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}a value that lies within a range of values and is {d_link|computed|compute} according to a prescribed law: such as" ] ] } } ], [ "sense", { "sn": "(1)", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}{sx|arithmetic mean||}" ] ] } ], [ "sense", { "sn": "(2)", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}{sx|expected value||}" ] ] } ] ] ], [ "sense", { "sn": "c", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}either of the middle two terms of a {d_link|proportion|proportion:1}" ] ] } ] ], [ [ "sense", { "sn": "2", "ins": [ { "if": "means", "spl": "plural in form but singular or plural in construction" } ], "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}something useful or helpful to a desired end" ] ] } ] ], [ [ "sense", { "sn": "3", "ins": [ { "if": "means", "spl": "plural" } ], "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}resources available for disposal" ] ], "sdsense": { "sd": "especially", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}material resources {d_link|affording|afford} a secure life" ] ] } } ] ] ] } ], "dros": [ { "drp": "by all means", "def": [ { "sseq": [ [ [ "sense", { "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}most {d_link|assuredly|assuredly} {bc}{sx|certainly||}" ] ] } ] ] ] } ] }, { "drp": "by means of", "def": [ { "sseq": [ [ [ "sense", { "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}through the use of" ] ] } ] ] ] } ] }, { "drp": "by no means", "def": [ { "sseq": [ [ [ "sense", { "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}in no way {bc}not at all" ] ] } ] ] ] } ] } ], "et": [ [ "text", "{dx_ety}see {dxt|mean:3||}{/dx_ety}" ] ], "date": "14th century{ds||1|a|1}", "shortdef": [ "something intervening or intermediate", "a middle point between extremes", "a value that lies within a range of values and is computed according to a prescribed law: such as" ] }, { "meta": { "id": "mean deviation", "uuid": "c0505386-8661-4865-8da2-f8dc1f539919", "sort": "131465000", "src": "collegiate", "section": "alpha", "stems": [ "mean deviation", "mean deviations" ], "offensive": false }, "hwi": { "hw": "mean deviation" }, "fl": "noun", "def": [ { "sseq": [ [ [ "sense", { "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}the mean of the absolute values of the numerical differences between the numbers of a set (such as statistical data) and their mean or median" ] ] } ] ] ] } ], "date": "1858", "shortdef": [ "the mean of the absolute values of the numerical differences between the numbers of a set (such as statistical data) and their mean or median" ] }, { "meta": { "id": "mean distance", "uuid": "edba7256-dd9c-4848-b7d8-49b6d6224ca9", "sort": "131466000", "src": "collegiate", "section": "alpha", "stems": [ "mean distance", "mean distances" ], "offensive": false }, "hwi": { "hw": "mean distance" }, "fl": "noun", "def": [ { "sseq": [ [ [ "sense", { "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}the arithmetical mean of the maximum and minimum distances of an orbiting celestial object from its primary" ] ] } ] ] ] } ], "date": "1788", "shortdef": [ "the arithmetical mean of the maximum and minimum distances of an orbiting celestial object from its primary" ] }, { "meta": { "id": "mean free path", "uuid": "f0e815e6-ef9b-43e9-aef6-742bc2c064a3", "sort": "131467000", "src": "collegiate", "section": "alpha", "stems": [ "mean free path", "mean free paths" ], "offensive": false }, "hwi": { "hw": "mean free path" }, "fl": "noun", "def": [ { "sseq": [ [ [ "sense", { "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}the average distance traversed between collisions by particles (such as molecules of a gas or free electrons in metal) in a system of agitated particles" ] ] } ] ] ] } ], "date": "1879", "shortdef": [ "the average distance traversed between collisions by particles (such as molecules of a gas or free electrons in metal) in a system of agitated particles" ] }, { "meta": { "id": "mean proportional", "uuid": "d73df667-3e5a-4629-ac3a-cff599f74e2e", "sort": "131475000", "src": "collegiate", "section": "alpha", "stems": [ "mean proportional", "mean proportionals" ], "offensive": false }, "hwi": { "hw": "mean proportional" }, "fl": "noun", "def": [ { "sseq": [ [ [ "sense", { "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}{sx|geometric mean||}" ] ], "sdsense": { "sd": "especially", "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}the square root (such as {it}x{/it}) of the product of two numbers (such as {it}a{/it} and {it}b{/it}) when expressed as the means of a proportion (such as {it}a/x = x/b{/it})" ] ] } } ] ] ] } ], "date": "1571", "shortdef": [ "geometric mean; especially : the square root (such as x) of the product of two numbers (such as a and b) when expressed as the means of a proportion (such as a/x = x/b)" ] }, { "meta": { "id": "mean solar day", "uuid": "8bdbbf61-9d18-48c6-bd2c-58bcc59b2e96", "sort": "131476000", "src": "collegiate", "section": "alpha", "stems": [ "mean solar day", "mean solar days" ], "offensive": false }, "hwi": { "hw": "mean solar day" }, "fl": "noun", "def": [ { "sseq": [ [ [ "sense", { "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}the interval between successive transits of a given meridian of longitude by the {d_link|mean sun|mean sun} " ], [ "vis", [ { "t": "The confusion wasn't resolved for good until 1884, when an international time conference in Washington, D.C., replaced the old-fashioned solar day with the {wi}mean solar day{/wi}—a legal fiction in which the daily fluctuations are averaged out, enabling us to enjoy the blessings of a uniform 24-hour day all year long.", "aq": { "auth": "Jon Vara" } } ] ] ] } ] ] ] } ], "date": "1810", "shortdef": [ "the interval between successive transits of a given meridian of longitude by the mean sun" ] }, { "meta": { "id": "mean-spirited", "uuid": "8e8c5318-05be-4576-97b7-59e252a33fbd", "sort": "131477000", "src": "collegiate", "section": "alpha", "stems": [ "mean-spirited", "mean-spiritedness", "mean-spiritednesses" ], "offensive": false }, "hwi": { "hw": "mean-spir*it*ed", "prs": [ { "mw": "ˈmēn-ˈspir-ə-təd", "sound": { "audio": "meansp01", "ref": "c", "stat": "1" } }, { "mw": "ˌmēn-" } ] }, "fl": "adjective", "def": [ { "sseq": [ [ [ "sense", { "dt": [ [ "text", "{bc}exhibiting or characterized by meanness of spirit" ] ] } ] ] ] } ], "uros": [ { "ure": "mean-spir*it*ed*ness", "prs": [ { "mw": "ˈmēn-ˈspir-ə-təd-nəs", "sound": { "audio": "meansp02", "ref": "c", "stat": "1" } }, { "mw": "ˌmēn-" } ], "fl": "noun" } ], "date": "1694", "shortdef": [ "exhibiting or characterized by meanness of spirit" ] } ]