word-vault

{ "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’." }