Topic: MEASUREMENT
 |
Sense: 1-5, 7
| Origin: | Old English gemæne |
| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | meien, from Latin medianus; MEDIAN2 |
| |||||||||
mean2 comparative meaner, superlative meanest
1 cruel or not kind : 
That was a mean thing to do.I felt a bit mean asking him to help. It's a mean trick to play on someone.
cruel
That was a mean thing to do.I felt a bit mean asking him to help.It's a mean trick to play on someone.2 not wanting to spend money, or not wanting to use much of something [= stingy; = cheap AmE] He's too mean to buy a present for his wife.
not generous
British EnglishHe's too mean to buy a present for his wife. mean with He's always been mean with his money. It was supposed to be garlic bread, but they'd been a bit mean with the garlic.
He's always been mean with his money.It was supposed to be garlic bread, but they'd been a bit mean with the garlic.3 something that is very difficult to do, so that someone who does it deserves to be admired : They sold 1 million cards in the first year of business - no mean feat, given the problems many businesses are facing.
no mean feat/achievement/task etc
They sold 1 million cards in the first year of business - no mean feat, given the problems many businesses are facing.4 to be very good at doing something : Kinnock is no mean performer on the rugby field.
be no mean performer/player etc
Kinnock is no mean performer on the rugby field.5 used to say that something is very good or that someone is very good at doing something : He plays a mean game of poker. They serve a mean Sunday brunch at the restaurant on Fourth Street.
a mean something
informalHe plays a mean game of poker.They serve a mean Sunday brunch at the restaurant on Fourth Street.6 average : The study involved 60 patients with a mean age of 58.2 years. The mean annual rainfall was 852 mm.
average
[only before noun] technicalHMThe study involved 60 patients with a mean age of 58.2 years.The mean annual rainfall was 852 mm.7 poor or looking poor : She walked briskly through the mean and dirty streets.
poor
[only before noun] literaryShe walked briskly through the mean and dirty streets. —meanly adverb
—meanness noun [uncountable]
WORD FOCUS: horrible 
WORD FOCUS: horrible taste or smell: nasty, not very nice, revolting, disgusting, foul, unpleasant, gross informal
experience, situation, or feeling: nasty, not very nice, terrible, unpleasant
person: nasty, not very nice, obnoxious, mean American English, unpleasant, objectionable
➔ See also horribleWORD FOCUS: unkind
WORD FOCUS: unkind similar words: nasty, cruel, mean, inconsiderate, thoughtless, insensitive, unsympathetic, hard-hearted
➔ See also unkind
