mean

significare, voler dire

Esprimere un’idea o un messaggio con parole, segni o gesti.

In inglese semplice: To express a particular idea or message.

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

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

Sinonimi: signify, stand for

Espressioni comuni: mean something, what does something mean, mean the same

significare

Esprimere un’idea o indicare che qualcosa è vero o probabile.

In inglese semplice: 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.

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

Sinonimi: signify, indicate

Espressioni comuni: mean something, mean trouble

avere intenzione, volere

Fare qualcosa con intenzioni buone o dannose.

In inglese semplice: 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?

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

Sinonimi: intend

Espressioni comuni: mean well, mean no harm, mean someone harm

cattivo, crudele

Che tratta gli altri con cattiveria o crudeltà.

In inglese semplice: 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.

Come si usa: mean to someone (She was mean to her little brother.)

Sinonimi: unkind, nasty, cruel

Contrari: kind

Espressioni comuni: mean person, mean to someone, mean remark

tirchio, avaro

Che non vuole spendere denaro né condividere ciò che ha.

In inglese semplice: 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.

Come si usa: mean with something (He is mean with his money.)

Sinonimi: stingy, tightfisted

Contrari: generous

Espressioni comuni: mean with money, mean about tips

misero, povero

Di qualità scadente, dall’aspetto povero o con condizioni di vita misere.

In inglese semplice: 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.

Sinonimi: poor, shabby, inferior

Espressioni comuni: mean dwelling, mean appearance, mean clothes

media, media aritmetica

Valore ottenuto sommando più numeri e dividendo il totale per la quantità di numeri.

In inglese semplice: 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.

Come si usa: mean of something (The mean of these five numbers is twelve.)

Sinonimi: average

Espressioni comuni: arithmetic mean, calculate the mean, mean score

mezzo, metodo

Metodo o strumento usato per ottenere un risultato.

In inglese semplice: 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.

Sinonimi: method, way

Espressioni comuni: a useful mean, every available mean