mean

significar

Expresar una idea o un mensaje mediante palabras, signos o acciones.

En inglés sencillo: To express a particular idea or message.

• What does this word mean?
• A red light means stop.
• Those two phrases mean the same thing.

Cómo se usa: mean something (This symbol means danger.); what does something mean? (What does this sign mean?)

Sinónimos: signify, stand for

Expresiones frecuentes: mean something, what does something mean, mean the same

significar

Expresar una idea o indicar que algo es cierto o probable.

En inglés sencillo: To express an idea or show that something is true or likely.

• What does this sign mean?
• Those dark clouds could mean rain.
• The red light means danger.

Cómo se usa: mean that… (A flashing light means that the battery is low.)

Sinónimos: signify, indicate

Expresiones frecuentes: mean something, mean trouble

tener intención, pretender

Actuar con una intención buena o mala.

En inglés sencillo: To have good or harmful intentions when doing something.

• She means well, even when her advice is annoying.
• I meant no harm by my question.
• Do you think he means us any harm?

Cómo se usa: mean well (He means well, but he often causes problems.); mean someone harm (I never meant you any harm.)

Sinónimos: intend

Expresiones frecuentes: mean well, mean no harm, mean someone harm

cruel, malo

Que trata a otras personas con maldad o crueldad.

En inglés sencillo: Unkind or cruel to other people.

• That was a mean thing to say.
• Why are you being mean to me?
• The other children made mean jokes about him.

Cómo se usa: mean to someone (She was mean to her little brother.)

Sinónimos: unkind, nasty, cruel

Antónimos: kind

Expresiones frecuentes: mean person, mean to someone, mean remark

tacaño

Que no quiere gastar dinero ni compartir lo que tiene.

En inglés sencillo: Unwilling to spend money or share what you have.

• He is too mean to leave a tip.
• She was always mean with her money.
• Do not be mean about sharing the biscuits.

Cómo se usa: mean with something (He is mean with his money.)

Sinónimos: stingy, tightfisted

Antónimos: generous

Expresiones frecuentes: mean with money, mean about tips

mísero, pobre

De mala calidad, aspecto pobre o condiciones de vida miserables.

En inglés sencillo: Poor in quality, appearance, or living conditions.

• They lived in a mean little hut.
• His mean clothes offered little protection from the cold.
• Behind the palace stood several mean dwellings.

Sinónimos: poor, shabby, inferior

Expresiones frecuentes: mean dwelling, mean appearance, mean clothes

media, media aritmética

Valor obtenido al sumar varios números y dividir el total entre la cantidad de números.

En inglés sencillo: The total of several numbers divided by how many numbers there are.

• The mean of four and six is five.
• We calculated the mean of all the scores.
• The two groups had different means.

Cómo se usa: mean of something (The mean of these five numbers is twelve.)

Sinónimos: average

Expresiones frecuentes: arithmetic mean, calculate the mean, mean score

medio, método

Manera o recurso que se usa para conseguir un resultado.

En inglés sencillo: A method used to achieve a result.

• He sought a mean to secure their release.
• They considered every mean available to achieve peace.
• No honest mean could bring about that result.

Sinónimos: method, way

Expresiones frecuentes: a useful mean, every available mean