{
    "term": "means",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "an action, an object or a system by which a result is achieved; a way of achieving or doing something",
            "sensetop": "means of somethingmeans of doing somethingas a means of (doing) somethingmeans to do somethingmeans to somethingby… means",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Email is a highly effective **means of communication**.",
                    "contextForm": "means of something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The state is in control of the **means of production**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We needed to get to London but we had no **means of transport**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Have you any means of identification?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Is there any means of contacting him?",
                    "contextForm": "means of doing something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Interest rates are used as a means of controlling borrowing.",
                    "contextForm": "as a means of (doing) something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They are using peaceful means to achieve their aims.",
                    "contextForm": "means to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Music is the best means we have to reach a wide audience."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Equality is an end in itself, not just a means to a goal.",
                    "contextForm": "means to something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "This weed can be controlled by various means.",
                    "contextForm": "by… means"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The nations tried to solve their differences by peaceful means."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Fishing is their only means of livelihood."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We will use whatever means are necessary."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Infringement of copyright includes distribution by electronic means."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They cannot achieve their goal through legal means."
                },
                {
                    "text": "War is famously ‘the continuation of policy by other means’."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We will use every possible means to achieve our objective."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Gold has been the preferred means of exchange for centuries."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Oil lamps were the sole means of illumination."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Painting had become his primary means of self-expression."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We must look for an alternative means of escape."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We have no means of knowing how they will react."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The study aims to provide a means of testing the theory."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Television is an effective means of communication."
                },
                {
                    "text": "My English teacher provided me with the means to enjoy reading poetry."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Change, cause and effect"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["appropriate", "convenient", "effective"],
                "verb + means": ["have", "use", "offer (somebody)"],
                "preposition": ["by means  (of)", "through means", "means  for"],
                "phrases": [
                    "the end justifies the means",
                    "a means to an end",
                    "by any means necessary"
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "the money that a person has",
            "sensetop": "according to somebody's meanswithin somebody's meansbeyond somebody's meansmeans to do something",
            "cefr": "c2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a **man of means** *(= a rich man)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "People should pay according to their means.",
                    "contextForm": "according to somebody's means"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Are the monthly repayments within your means *(= can you afford them)*?",
                    "contextForm": "within somebody's means"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Try to **live within your means** *(= not spend more money than you have)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Private school fees are beyond the means of most people *(= more than they can afford)*.",
                    "contextForm": "beyond somebody's means"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He doesn't have the means to hire a lawyer.",
                    "contextForm": "means to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "She must have **independent means** *(= money that she did not earn)* to live in such style."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Money"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["independent", "private", "limited"],
                "verb + means": ["have", "lack"],
                "means + noun": ["test"],
                "preposition": [
                    "according to your means",
                    "beyond your means",
                    "within your means"
                ],
                "phrases": ["a man/​woman of means"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to say that you are very willing for somebody to have something or do something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "‘Do you mind if I have a look?’ ‘By all means.’"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "using dishonest methods if honest ones do not work",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She’s determined to win, by fair means or foul."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "with the help of something",
            "labels": "(formal)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The load was lifted by means of a crane."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Change, cause and effect"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "not at all",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She is by no means an inexperienced teacher."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We haven't won yet, not by any means."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "bad or unfair methods of doing something are acceptable if the result of that action is good or positive",
            "labels": "(saying)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He defended a morality in which the end justifies the means."
                },
                {
                    "text": "That's only OK if you believe that the end justifies the means."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a thing or an action that is not interesting or important in itself but is a way of achieving something else",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He doesn't particularly like the work but he sees it as a means to an end."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I don't enjoy studying computing—it's just a means to an end."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "the methods and materials available for doing something",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "ways and means of raising money"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Newspapers have ways and means of getting hold of secret information."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/miːnz/",
                "audio": "me/means/means__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/miːnz/",
                "audio": "me/means/means__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "late Middle English: plural of mean (noun), the early sense being ‘intermediary’."
}