mean

/miːn/ verb [T] (past tense and past participle meant /ment/)

Definition

MEANING › to have a particular meaning: What does 'perpendicular' mean? The red light means stop.

EXPRESS › to intend to express a fact or opinion: I didn't mean that as a criticism. That's what I meant when I said he's been acting oddly. What exactly do you mean by 'old-fashioned'?

mean to do sth › to intend to do something: I didn't mean to hurt her.

RESULT › to have a particular result: These changes will mean better health care for everyone. [+ (that)] It doesn't mean that you can stop working.

SERIOUS › to be serious about something that you have said: I'll take that sandwich away if you don't eat it properly - I mean it!

IMPORTANT › to have an important emotional effect on someone: You don't know what it means to me to get this letter. Their support has meant a lot to us.

have been meaning to do sth › to have been wanting and planning to do something: I've been meaning to call you for weeks.

be meant to do sth › If you are meant to do something, that is what you should do in order to behave correctly: You're meant to shake the bottle first. He's not meant to drive any more.

mean well › to intend to behave in a kind way: I know my parents mean well, but I wish they wouldn't interfere.

I mean › something that people often say before they continue their sentence: I mean, I don't dislike her. › something that you say in order to correct yourself: We went there in May - I mean June.

(Definition of mean verb from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)