mean business

英：[mi:n ˈbiznis]

美：[min ˈbɪznɪs]

verb

transitive verb

to have in the mind as a purpose : intend—sometimes used interjectionally with I, chiefly in informal speech for emphasishe throws, I mean, hard or to introduce a phrase restating the point of a preceding phrasewe try to answer what we can, but I mean we're not God—Bobbie Ann Mason

she means to win

to design for or destine to a specified purpose or future

I was meant to teach

to serve or intend to convey, show, or indicate : signify

a red sky means rain

to have importance to the degree of

health means everything

to direct to a particular individual

His criticism was meant for all of us.

intransitive verb

to have an intended purpose

he means well

adjective (1)

lacking distinction or eminence : humble

lacking in mental discrimination : dull

of poor, shabby, or inferior quality or status

mean city streets

worthy of little regard : contemptible—often used in negative constructions as a term of praise

no mean feat

lacking dignity or honor : base

a mean motive

penurious, stingy

He's very mean with his money.

characterized by petty selfishness or malice

a mean surly man

causing trouble or bother : vexatious

a mean soil to work

excellent, effective a lean, mean athlete

plays a mean trumpet

ashamed sense 1b

His ready cooperation made me feel mean for what I had said.

adjective (2)

occupying a middle position : intermediate in space, order, time, kind, or degree

occupying a position about midway between extremesespecially: being the mean of a set of values : average

the mean temperature

serving as a means : intermediary

noun

something intervening or intermediate

a value that lies within a range of values and is computed according to a prescribed law: such as

either of the middle two terms of a proportion

means plural in form but singular or plural in construction something useful or helpful to a desired end

means plural resources available for disposalespecially: material resources affording a secure life

Verb Middle English menen, from Old English mǣnan; akin to Old High German meinen to have in mind, Old Church Slavonic měniti to mention Adjective (1) Middle English mene, from imene common, shared, from Old English gemǣne; akin to Old High German gimeini common, Latin communis common, munus service, gift, Sanskrit mayate he exchanges Adjective (2) and Noun Middle English mene, from Anglo-French mene, meiene, from Latin medianus — more at median

The first known use of mean was before the 12th century

vitamin Knoun

any of several vitamins that are needed in order for blood to clot properly

bulk1 of 3noun

greatness of size or mass : volume

a large body or mass

the main or greater part

did the bulk of the work

fiber sense 1f

bulk2 of 3verb

to cause to swell or bulge

to appear as a consideration

an issue that bulks large in her mind

bulk3 of 3adjective

being in bulk

bulk foods

vitamin Enoun

any of various oily liquid compounds that can be dissolved in fats, are found especially in plants, and are necessary in the body to prevent infertility and the breakdown of muscles

bite1 of 2verb

to seize, grip, or cut into with or as if with teeth

bite an apple

to wound, pierce, or sting a mosquito bit me

bitten by a snake

to cause to smart : sting

pepper bites the mouth

to eat into

acid biting into metal

to take bait

the fish are biting

to respond to something tempting

bite2 of 2noun

a seizing of something by biting

the grip taken in biting

the amount of food taken at a bite

a small amount of food : snack

a wound made by biting

a sharp penetrating quality or effect

the bite of the cold wind on our cheeks

bump1 of 2noun

a forceful blow, shock, or jolt

a rounded lumpespecially: a swelling of tissue (as from a blow)

bump2 of 2verb

to strike or knock against something with force or violence

to move along unevenly : jolt

bundle upverb

to dress warmly

burnout1 of 2noun

the ending of operation of a jet or rocket engine as a result of the using up or shutting off of fuel

the point in a flight at which burnout occurs

exhaustion of one's bodily or mental strength

burn out2 of 2verb

to drive out or destroy the property of by fire

to cause to wear out or become exhausted

mean1 of 4adjective

lacking distinction or prominence : humble

of poor, shabby, or inferior quality or status

lives in mean surroundings

worthy of little regard : inferior—often used in negative constructions as a term of praise

a person of no mean ability

deliberately unkind

stingy sense 1, miserly

spiteful, malicious

a mean remark

causing trouble or bother

a mean horse

excellent

plays a mean trumpet

mean2 of 4verb

to have as a purpose : intend

I mean to go

to intend for a particular purpose or use

a book meant for children

to serve to communicate, show, or indicate : signify those clouds mean rain

what do these words mean

to be important to a specified degree

health means everything to us

mean3 of 4adjective

holding a middle position : intermediate

lying about midway between extremes

being the mean of a set of values : average

mean temperature

mean4 of 4noun

a middle point between extremes

a value that represents a range of valuesespecially: arithmetic mean

either of the middle two terms of a proportion

plural something by which a desired result is achieved or furthered use any means you can

means of production

plural wealth sense 1

a person of means