word-vault

{ "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." }