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   mean

   /miːn/

   verb

   • 1. intend to convey or refer to (a particular thing); signify: "I don't know what you mean" Similar signifyconveydenotedesignateindicateconnoteshowexpressspell outstand forrepresentsymbolizeimplypurportsuggestallude tointimatehint atinsinuatedrive atrefer toinformal:get atliterary:betoken
   • ▪ (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"
   • ▪ be of a specified degree of importance to (someone): "animals have always meant more to him than people"
   • 2. intend (something) to occur or be the case: "they mean no harm" Similar intendaimplandesignhave in mindhave in viewcontemplatethink ofpurposeproposehave plansset outaspiredesirewantwishexpect
   • ▪ be supposed to do something: "we were meant to go over yesterday"
   • ▪ design or destine for a particular purpose: "the jacket was meant for a much larger person" Similar destinepredestinefatepreordainordainintenddesign
   • ▪ have something as a motive or explanation in saying or doing: "what do you mean by leaving me out here in the cold?" Similar matterhave importancehave significancebe importantbe significanthave an input on
   • ▪ be generally considered to be: "this one's meant to be priceless"
   • 3. have as a consequence or result: "the proposals are likely to mean another hundred closures" Similar entailinvolvenecessitatelead toresult ingive rise tobring aboutcauseengenderproduceeffect
   • ▪ necessarily or usually entail or involve: "coal stoves mean a lot of smoke"

   Word Origin Old Englishmænan, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch meenen and German meinen, from an Indo-European root shared by mind.

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • M

     3

   • E

     1

   • A

     1

   • N

     1

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