Mean vs. Meaning — What's the Difference?

Unkind or spiteful in behavior.

The purpose or underlying intention of something.

Indicating something undesirable or harmful.

The significance or interpretation of a word, phrase, or symbol.

To calculate the average of a set of values.

The implied or explicit sense conveyed by speech or writing.

To intend to convey or signify.

A philosophical or deep interpretation of a concept.

Economical or showing little generosity.

The translation or explanation of something not immediately obvious.

There are several kinds of mean in mathematics, especially in statistics: For a data set, the arithmetic mean, also known as average or arithmetic average, is a central value of a finite set of numbers: specifically, the sum of the values divided by the number of values. The arithmetic mean of a set of numbers x1, x2, ..., xn is typically denoted by x ¯ {\displaystyle {\bar {x}}} .

What is meant by a word, text, concept, or action

Intend to convey or refer to (a particular thing); signify

Intended to communicate something that is not directly expressed

Intend (something) to occur or be the case

The denotation, referent, or idea associated with a word or phrase

Have as a consequence or result

Something that is conveyed or intended, especially by language; sense or significance

Unwilling to give or share things, especially money; not generous

An interpreted goal, intent, or end

Unkind, spiteful, or unfair

A sense of importance or purpose

(especially of a place) poor in quality and appearance; shabby

Disposed or intended in a specified manner. Often used in combination

Very skilful or effective; excellent

Full of meaning; expressive

(of a quantity) calculated as a mean; average

(of words, expressions or symbols)

Equally far from two extremes

The denotation, referent, or idea connected with a word, expression, or symbol.

The value obtained by dividing the sum of several quantities by their number; an average

The connotation associated with a word, expression, or symbol.

A condition, quality, or course of action equally removed from two opposite extremes

The purpose, value, or significance (of something) beyond the fact of that thing's existence.

To be used to convey; denote

(of a person's actions) Intention.

To act as a symbol of; signify or represent

Present participle of mean

To intend to convey or indicate

Having a (specified) intention.

To have as a purpose or an intention; intend

Expressing some intention or significance; meaningful.

To design, intend, or destine for a certain purpose or end

That which is meant or intended; intent; purpose; aim; object; as, a mischievous meaning was apparent.

To have as a consequence; bring about

That which is signified, whether by act lanquage; signification; sense; import; as, the meaning of a hint.

To have the importance or value of

Sense; power of thinking.

To have intentions of a specified kind; be disposed

The message that is intended or expressed or signified;

Lacking in kindness; unkind

The idea that is intended;

Cruel, spiteful, or malicious

Rich in significance or implication;

Expressing spite or malice

Tending toward or characterized by cruelty or violence

Extremely unpleasant or disagreeable

Ignoble; base

Occupying a middle or intermediate position between two extremes.

Intermediate in size, extent, quality, time, or degree; medium.

Something having a position, quality, or condition midway between extremes; a medium.

A number that typifies a set of numbers, such as a geometric mean or an arithmetic mean.

The average value of a set of numbers.

(Logic) The middle term in a syllogism.

Means (used with a sing. or pl. verb) A method, a course of action, or an instrument by which an act can be accomplished or an end achieved.

Money, property, or other wealth

Great wealth

To intend.

(transitive) To intend, to plan (to do); to have as one's intention.

(intransitive) To have as intentions of a given kind.

To intend (something) for a given purpose or fate; to predestine.

(transitive) To intend an ensuing comment or statement as an explanation.[https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/i_mean%20I%20mean]

To convey (a meaning).

(transitive) To convey (a given sense); to signify, or indicate (an object or idea).

(transitive) Of a word, symbol etc: to have reference to, to signify.

(transitive) Of a person (or animal etc): to intend to express, to imply, to hint at, to allude.

(transitive) To have conviction in (something said or expressed); to be sincere in (what one says).

(transitive) To cause or produce (a given result); to bring about (a given result).

(usually with to) To be of some level of importance.

To lament.

(obsolete) Common; general.

Of a common or low origin, grade, or quality; common; humble.

Low in quality or degree; inferior; poor; shabby.

Without dignity of mind; destitute of honour; low-minded; spiritless; base.

Of little value or worth; worthy of little or no regard; contemptible; despicable.

Ungenerous; stingy; tight-fisted.

Disobliging; pettily offensive or unaccommodating.

Intending to cause harm, successfully or otherwise; bearing ill will towards another.

Powerful; fierce; strong.

(colloquial) Accomplished with great skill; deft; hard to compete with.

Difficult, tricky.

Having the mean (see noun below) as its value; average.

(obsolete) Middling; intermediate; moderately good, tolerable.

A method or course of action used to achieve some result.

An intermediate step or intermediate steps.

Something which is intermediate or in the middle; an intermediate value or range of values; a medium.

The middle part of three-part polyphonic music; now specifically, the alto part in polyphonic music; an alto instrument.

(statistics) The average of a set of values, calculated by summing them together and dividing by the number of terms; the arithmetic mean.

(mathematics) Any function of multiple variables that satisfies certain properties and yields a number representative of its arguments; or, the number so yielded; a measure of central tendency.

(mathematics) Either of the two numbers in the middle of a conventionally presented proportion, as 2 and 3 in 1:2=3:6.

To have in the mind, as a purpose, intention, etc.; to intend; to purpose; to design; as, what do you mean to do?

To signify; to indicate; to import; to denote.

To have a purpose or intention.

Destitute of distinction or eminence; common; low; vulgar; humble.

Wanting dignity of mind; low-minded; base; destitute of honor; spiritless; as, a mean motive.

Of little value or account; worthy of little or no regard; contemptible; despicable.

Of poor quality; as, mean fare.

Penurious; stingy; close-fisted; illiberal; as, mean hospitality.

Occupying a middle position; middle; being about midway between extremes.

Intermediate in excellence of any kind.

Average; having an intermediate value between two extremes, or between the several successive values of a variable quantity during one cycle of variation; as, mean distance; mean motion; mean solar day.

That which is mean, or intermediate, between two extremes of place, time, or number; the middle point or place; middle rate or degree; mediocrity; medium; absence of extremes or excess; moderation; measure.

A quantity having an intermediate value between several others, from which it is derived, and of which it expresses the resultant value; usually, unless otherwise specified, it is the simple average, formed by adding the quantities together and dividing by their number, which is called an arithmetical mean. A geometrical mean is the nth root of the product of the n quantities being averaged.

That through which, or by the help of which, an end is attained; something tending to an object desired; intermediate agency or measure; necessary condition or coagent; instrument.

Resources; property, revenue, or the like, considered as the condition of easy livelihood, or an instrumentality at command for effecting any purpose; disposable force or substance.

A part, whether alto or tenor, intermediate between the soprano and base; a middle part.

Meantime; meanwhile.

An average of n numbers computed by adding some function of the numbers and dividing by some function of n

Mean or intend to express or convey;

Have as a logical consequence;

Denote or connote;

Have in mind as a purpose;

Have a specified degree of importance;

Intend to refer to;

Destine or designate for a certain purpose;

Approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value;

Characterized by malice;

Having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality;

Excellent;

Marked by poverty befitting a beggar;

Used of persons or behavior; characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity;

Used of sums of money; so small in amount as to deserve contempt

As a verb, mean can imply calculating an average or intending to convey a specific message.

Yes, the meaning of words, actions, or events can often be subjective and vary based on context or individual perception.

Mean refers to what one intends to express or the harshness of one’s demeanor, while meaning pertains to the interpretation or significance of what is expressed.

In mathematics, mean refers to the average value in a set of numbers.

You can use mean in a sentence to describe calculation, intention, or behavior, such as, "They mean to win the championship."

The meaning of a word can evolve due to cultural shifts, technological advancements, or changes in usage within a community.

Meaning refers to the significance, interpretation, or inherent sense of something.

"The mean temperature for today is lower than usual," versus, "The meaning of his gesture was warm and welcoming."

Yes, when describing behavior, mean typically conveys a negative connotation of unkindness or spite.

In linguistics, meaning is crucial for understanding how language conveys significance through words and structures.