1intend to convey or refer to (a particular thing); signify:I don’t know what you meanhe was asked to clarify what his remarks meantI meant you, not Jones
(of a word) have (something) as its signification in the same language or its equivalent in another language:its name means ‘painted rock’ in Cherokee
genuinely intend to express (something):when she said that she meant it
(mean something to) be of a specified degree of importance to (someone):animals have always meant more to him than people
2intend (something) to occur or be the case:they mean no harm [with infinitive]:it was meant to be a secret
(be meant to do something) be supposed to do something:we were meant to go over yesterday
(often be meant for) design or destine for a particular purpose:the jacket was meant for a much larger person
(mean something by) have something as a motive or explanation in saying or doing:what do you mean by leaving me out here in the cold?
(be meant to be) be generally considered to be:this one’s meant to be priceless
3have as a consequence or result:the proposals are likely to mean another hundred closures [with clause]:heavy rain meant that the pitch was waterlogged
necessarily or usually entail or involve:coal stoves mean a lot of smoke
I mean
used to explain or correct a statement:I mean, it’s not as if I owned property
mean business
be in earnest:the border is sealed by troops who mean business
mean to say
[usually in questions] used to emphasize a statement or to ask another if they really intend to say something:do you mean to say you’ve uncovered something new?
mean well
have good intentions, but not always the ability to carry them out:he means well and is anxious to rule wisely
