mean

S1 W1

BrE /miːn/ AmE /miːn/

adjective / verb en → es

1 UNFRIENDLY [adjective] A2

not kind or friendly; unkind

desagradable, malhumorado

Collocations mean to someone · mean behavior

  • He was mean to his sister.

    Él fue desagradable con su hermana.

2 INTEND [T + obj] A1

to intend or plan something

querer decir, pretender

  • mean to do sth
  • I didn't mean to hurt you.

    No quise lastimarte.

3 AVERAGE [adjective] B1

the average of a set of numbers or values

promedio, media aritmética

Collocations mean value · mean temperature

  • The mean temperature in July is 25 degrees.

    La temperatura promedio en julio es de 25 grados.

4 STINGY [adjective] B1

not willing to spend money or give things; stingy

tacaño, mezquino

Collocations mean with money · mean person

  • She's very mean with her money.

    Ella es muy tacaña con su dinero.

5 SIGNIFY [T + obj] A2

to have a particular meaning or significance

significar, significar algo

  • mean sth to sb
  • What does this symbol mean?

    ¿Qué significa este símbolo?

6 CRUEL [adjective] B1

cruel or unkind, especially to someone who is weaker or less powerful

cruel, despiadado

Collocations mean to animals · mean behavior

  • It's mean to tease someone.

    Es cruel burlarse de alguien.

7 POOR QUALITY [adjective] B1

of poor quality or not very good

de mala calidad, pobre

Collocations mean living conditions · mean house

  • They live in mean conditions.

    Viven en condiciones de mala calidad.

8 MISERLY [adjective] B1

not generous or willing to spend money; miserly

avaro, tacaño

Collocations mean with gifts · mean person

  • He's mean when it comes to giving presents.

    Es tacaño cuando se trata de dar regalos.

Idioms

mean well B1

tener buenas intenciones

  • She means well, but she doesn't always know how to express it.

    Ella tiene buenas intenciones, pero a veces no sabe cómo expresarlo.

mean business B1

estar en serio

  • When he says he's going to do it, he means business.

    Cuando dice que lo va a hacer, está en serio.

mean no harm B1

no querer dañar

  • I didn't mean any harm; I was just joking.

    No quise hacer daño, solo estaba bromeando.