Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Old French
Origin: meien, from meien 'in the middle'; MEAN2

mean

3 noun
     
mean3
1

the mean

technicalHM the average amount, figure, or value:
The mean of 7, 9 and 14 is 10.
2

the/a mean between something and something

a method of doing something which is between two very different methods, and better than either of them:
It's a case of finding the mean between firmness and compassion.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary