mean

signifier, vouloir dire

Exprimer une idée ou un message par des mots, des signes ou des gestes.

En anglais simple : To express a particular idea or message.

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

Comment l'utiliser : mean something (This symbol means danger.); what does something mean? (What does this sign mean?)

Synonymes : signify, stand for

Expressions courantes : mean something, what does something mean, mean the same

signifier

Exprimer une idée ou indiquer que quelque chose est vrai ou probable.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : mean that… (A flashing light means that the battery is low.)

Synonymes : signify, indicate

Expressions courantes : mean something, mean trouble

avoir l’intention, vouloir

Faire quelque chose avec une intention bonne ou mauvaise.

En anglais simple : 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?

Comment l'utiliser : mean well (He means well, but he often causes problems.); mean someone harm (I never meant you any harm.)

Synonymes : intend

Expressions courantes : mean well, mean no harm, mean someone harm

méchant

Qui traite les autres sans gentillesse ou avec cruauté.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : mean to someone (She was mean to her little brother.)

Synonymes : unkind, nasty, cruel

Contraires : kind

Expressions courantes : mean person, mean to someone, mean remark

avare, radin

Qui ne veut pas dépenser d’argent ni partager ce qu’il possède.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : mean with something (He is mean with his money.)

Synonymes : stingy, tightfisted

Contraires : generous

Expressions courantes : mean with money, mean about tips

misérable, médiocre

De mauvaise qualité, d’aspect pauvre ou offrant de mauvaises conditions de vie.

En anglais simple : 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.

Synonymes : poor, shabby, inferior

Expressions courantes : mean dwelling, mean appearance, mean clothes

moyenne, moyenne arithmétique

Valeur obtenue en additionnant plusieurs nombres puis en divisant le total par le nombre de valeurs.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : mean of something (The mean of these five numbers is twelve.)

Synonymes : average

Expressions courantes : arithmetic mean, calculate the mean, mean score

moyen

Méthode ou outil utilisé pour obtenir un résultat.

En anglais simple : 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.

Synonymes : method, way

Expressions courantes : a useful mean, every available mean