{
    "term": "mean",
    "partOfSpeech": "verb",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "verbForms": {
        "presentSimple": {
            "iYouWeThey": "mean",
            "heSheIt": "means"
        },
        "pastSimple": "meant",
        "pastParticiple": "meant",
        "ingForm": "meaning"
    },
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "to have something as a meaning in the same or another language",
            "sensetop": "mean something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What does this sentence mean?",
                    "contextForm": "mean something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "What does ‘lark’ mean?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The word ‘Kuching’ means ‘cat’ in Malay."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Many languages use a single word to mean both music and dance."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**What is meant by** ‘batch processing’?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘Parcours’ is a French word meaning the route or the journey."
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘Zavod’ is usually translated as ‘The Iron Foundry’, though the word means simply ‘factory’ or ‘work’."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "to have something as a meaning; to represent something",
            "sensetop": "mean something by somethingmean something to somebodymean (that)…mean something",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What do we mean by democracy?",
                    "contextForm": "mean something by something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Does the name ‘Jos Vos’ **mean anything to you** *(= do you know who he is)*?",
                    "contextForm": "mean something to somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The flashing light means (that) you must stop.",
                    "contextForm": "mean (that)…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The Olympics have **come to mean** a wide variety of things.",
                    "contextForm": "mean something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Convenience means different things to different customers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Too often impressionism is taken to mean gazing through a soft-focus lens."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "to intend to say something on a particular occasion",
            "sensetop": "mean something by somethingmean somethingmean (that)…",
            "labels": "(informal)(informal)",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "What did he mean by that remark?",
                    "contextForm": "mean something by something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘Perhaps we should try another approach.’ ‘**What do you mean?** *(= I don't understand what you are suggesting.)*’",
                    "contextForm": "mean something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘**What's that supposed to mean?**’ demanded John."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**What do you mean**, you thought I wouldn't mind? *(= of course I mind and I am very angry)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "**What she means is** that there's no point in waiting here."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I always found him a little strange, **if you know what I mean** *(= if you understand what I mean by ‘strange’)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**I know what you mean** *(= I understand and feel sympathy)*. I hated learning to drive too."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It was like—weird. **Know what I mean?**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "**I see what you mean** *(= I understand although I may not agree)*, but I still think it's worth trying."
                },
                {
                    "text": "**See what I mean** *(= I was right and this proves it, doesn't it)*? She never agrees to anything I suggest."
                },
                {
                    "text": "‘But Pete doesn't know we're here!’ ‘**That's what I mean!** *(= that's what I have been trying to tell you.)*’"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Do you mean Ann Smith or Mary Smith?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Did he mean (that) he was dissatisfied with our service?",
                    "contextForm": "mean (that)…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "**You mean** *(= are you telling me)* we have to start all over again?"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "to have something as a purpose or intention",
            "sensetop": "mean somethingmean something as somethingmean what…mean something for somebody/somethingmean to do somethingmean somebody/something to do somethingmean (that)…",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "**What did she mean by** leaving so early *(= why did she do it)*?",
                    "contextForm": "mean something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Don't laugh! **I mean it** *(= I am serious)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He **means trouble** *(= to cause trouble)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Don't be upset—I'm sure she meant it as a compliment.",
                    "contextForm": "mean something as something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He **means what he says** *(= is not joking, exaggerating, etc.)*.",
                    "contextForm": "mean what…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The chair was clearly meant for a child.",
                    "contextForm": "mean something for somebody/something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Don't be angry. I'm sure she **meant it for the best** *(= intended to be helpful)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She means to succeed.",
                    "contextForm": "mean to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm sorry I hurt you. **I didn't mean to**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm feeling very guilty—**I've been meaning** to call my parents for days, but still haven't got around to it."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I didn't mean you to read the letter.",
                    "contextForm": "mean somebody/something to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "**You're meant to** *(= you are supposed to)* pay before you go in."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I never meant (that) you should come alone.",
                    "contextForm": "mean (that)…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "What do you mean by that?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I didn't mean to read your letter."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The house was clearly meant to be a family home."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There was a rack by the door presumably meant for umbrellas."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They are not using the system in the way the manufacturer meant it to be used."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "intend"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "to have something as a result or a likely result",
            "sensetop": "mean somethingmean to be/do somethingmean (that)…mean doing somethingmean somebody/something doing something",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Spending too much now will mean a shortage of cash next year.",
                    "contextForm": "mean something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Being frugal **doesn't necessarily mean** doing without."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Lower energy consumption means less pollution."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Touching the wires means instant death."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Do you have any idea **what it means to** be poor?",
                    "contextForm": "mean to be/do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We’ll have to be careful with money but **that doesn’t mean** (that) we can’t enjoy ourselves.",
                    "contextForm": "mean (that)…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This new order will mean working overtime.",
                    "contextForm": "mean doing something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The injury could mean him missing next week's game.",
                    "contextForm": "mean somebody/something doing something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "High unemployment means people are spending less."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Mr President, does this mean an end to the current conflict?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The cost would have meant financial ruin for us."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Good civic planning means more green space."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Rural life meant having to draw water from a well every day."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Change, cause and effect"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "to be of value or importance to somebody",
            "sensetop": "mean something to somebody",
            "cefr": "b1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Your friendship means a great deal to me."
                },
                {
                    "text": "$20 **means a lot** *(= represents a lot of money)* when you live on $100 a week."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Money **means nothing to him**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Her children **mean the world to her**."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 7,
            "definition": "to intend somebody to be or do something",
            "sensetop": "be meant for something/somebodymean somebody/something to be something",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I **was never meant for** the army *(= did not have the qualities needed to become a soldier)*.",
                    "contextForm": "be meant for something/somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Duncan and Makiko **were meant for each other** *(= are very suitable as partners)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "His father meant him to be an engineer.",
                    "contextForm": "mean somebody/something to be something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She did everything to get the two of them together, but I guess it just wasn't **meant to be**."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be generally considered to be something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "This restaurant is meant to be excellent."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to explain or correct what you have just said",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It was so boring—I mean, nothing happened for the first hour!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She's English—Scottish, I mean."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to be serious in your intentions",
            "labels": "(informal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He has the look of a man who means business."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He says he's going to make changes, and I think he means business."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to not have any intention of hurting somebody",
            "examples": []
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to emphasize what you are saying or to ask somebody if they really mean what they say",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I mean to say, you should have known how he would react!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Do you mean to say you've lost it?"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to have good intentions, although their effect may not be good",
            "examples": []
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/miːn/",
                "audio": "me/mean/mean__gb_2.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/miːnz/",
                "audio": "me/mean/means__gb_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ment/",
                "audio": "me/mean/meant__gb_2.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈmiːnɪŋ/",
                "audio": "me/mean/meaning__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/miːn/",
                "audio": "me/mean/mean__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/miːnz/",
                "audio": "me/mean/means__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ment/",
                "audio": "me/mean/meant__us_1.mp3"
            },
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈmiːnɪŋ/",
                "audio": "me/mean/meaning__us_3.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "verb Old English mænan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch meenen and German meinen, from an Indo-European root shared by mind."
}