intentioned (usually used in combination): She's a well-meaning person.
5.
full of significance; expressive: a meaning look.
[Origin: 1250–1300; ME (n.); see mean1, -ing1, -ing2]
—Related forms
mean·ing·ly, adverb
mean·ing·ness, noun
—Synonyms 1. tenor, gist, drift, trend. Meaning,purport,sense,significance denote that which is expressed or indicated by something. Meaning is the general word denoting that which is intended to be or actually is expressed or indicated: the meaning of a word or glance. Sense may be used to denote a particular meaning (among others) of a word or phrase: The word is frequently used in this sense. Sense may also be used loosely to refer to intelligible meaning: There's no sense in what he says. Significance refers particularly to a meaning that is implied rather than expressed: the significance of her glance; or to a meaning the importance of which may not be easy to perceive immediately: The real significance of his words was not grasped at the time. Purport is mainly limited to the meaning of a formal document, speech, important conversation, etc., and refers to the gist of something fairly complicated: the purport of your letter to the editor.
To be used to convey; denote: "'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things'"(Lewis Carroll).
To act as a symbol of; signify or represent: In this poem, the budding flower means youth.
To intend to convey or indicate: "No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous"(Henry Adams).
To have as a purpose or an intention; intend: I meant to go running this morning, but I overslept.
To design, intend, or destine for a certain purpose or end: a building that was meant for storage; a student who was meant to be a scientist.
To have as a consequence; bring about: Friction means heat.
To have the importance or value of: The opinions of the critics meant nothing to him. She meant so much to me.
v.
intr.
To have intentions of a specified kind; be disposed: They mean well but lack tact.
[Middle English menen, from Old English mǣnan, to tell of; see mei-no- in Indo-European roots.]
Something that is conveyed or signified; sense or significance.
Something that one wishes to convey, especially by language: The writer's meaning was obscured by his convoluted prose.
An interpreted goal, intent, or end: "The central meaning of his pontificate is to restore papal authority"(Conor Cruise O'Brien).
Inner significance: "But who can comprehend the meaning of the voice of the city?"(O. Henry).
adj.
Full of meaning; expressive.
Disposed or intended in a specified manner. Often used in combination: a well-meaning fellow; ill-meaning intentions.
Synonyms: These nouns refer to the idea conveyed by something, such as a word, action, gesture, or situation: Synonyms are words with the same or nearly the same meaning. In one of its acceptations value is a technical term in music. The import of his statement is ambiguous. The term anthropometry has only one sense. The significance of a green traffic light is widely understood. Linguists have determined the hieroglyphics' signification.
rich in significance or implication; "a meaning look"
noun
1.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified; "what is the meaning of this sentence"; "the significance of a red traffic light"; "the signification of Chinese characters"; "the import of his announcement was ambiguous"
2.
the idea that is intended; "What is the meaning of this proverb?"
the sense in which a statement, action, word etc is (intended to be) understood Example: What is the meaning of this phrase?; What is the meaning of his behaviour?
Arabic:
مَعْنى
Chinese (Simplified):
意义
Chinese (Traditional):
意義
Czech:
význam, smysl
Danish:
betydning; mening
Dutch:
betekenis
Estonian:
tähendus
Finnish:
merkitys
French:
sens
German:
die Bedeutung
Greek:
σημασία, έννοια, νόημα
Hungarian:
jelentés
Icelandic:
merking
Indonesian:
arti
Italian:
significato
Japanese:
意味
Korean:
의미, 의도
Latvian:
nozīme, jēga
Lithuanian:
reikšmė, prasmė
Norwegian:
betydning; hensikt
Polish:
znaczenie
Portuguese (Brazil):
sentido, significado
Portuguese (Portugal):
sentido
Romanian:
sens
Russian:
значение
Slovak:
význam
Slovenian:
pomen
Spanish:
sentido, significado
Swedish:
betydelse, mening
Turkish:
anlam, mana
ˈmeaningadjective
(of a look, glance etc) showing a certain feeling or giving a certain message Example: The teacher gave the boy a meaning look when he arrived late.
Mean\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Meant; p. pr. & vb. n. Meaning.] [OE. menen, AS. m[=ae]nan to recite, tell, intend, wish; akin to OS. m[=e]nian to have in mind, mean, D. meenen, G. meinen, OHG. meinan, Icel. meina, Sw. mena, Dan. mene, and to E. mind. ?. See Mind, and cf. Moan.]1. To have in the mind, as a purpose, intention, etc.; to intend; to purpose; to design; as, what do you mean to do ? What mean ye by this service ? --Ex. xii. 26. Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good. --Gen. 1. 20. I am not a Spaniard To say that it is yours and not to mean it. --Longfellow. 2. To signify; to indicate; to import; to denote. What mean these seven ewe lambs ? --Gen. xxi. 29. Go ye, and learn what that me?neth. --Matt. ix. 13.
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