Means
Definition
Means is a noun that refers to a method, instrument, or resource used to achieve a particular result. It can also signify financial resources or income. As a verb (rare and archaic), it serves as the third-person singular of "mean."
Parts of Speech
- Noun
- Verb (archaic)
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /miːnz/
- Respelling: MEENZ
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /miːnz/
- Respelling: MEENZ
Etymology
The word "means" originates from the Middle English "mene," derived from the Old French "meien," meaning "middle" or "mediator," and from the Latin "medianus," meaning "in the middle." It evolved to signify methods or instruments for achieving something.
Derivatives
- Meaning (noun)
- Meant (verb)
- Meanness (noun)
- Means-tested (adjective)
- Meanings (plural noun)
Synonyms
- Method
- Resource
- Instrument
Antonyms
- End
- Outcome
- None
Usage
The word "means" is commonly used in various contexts. For example, "Education is a means to a better life" indicates a method to achieve a goal. In financial contexts, "She has the means to buy the property" refers to resources or income. Its use in idiomatic phrases such as "by any means necessary" emphasizes determination and versatility.
Related Terms
- Method: A way or manner of doing something.
- Instrument: A tool or implement used to accomplish a task.
- Mechanism: A system of parts working together to achieve a function.
Detailed Definitions
Noun
- A method or instrument used to achieve a result: Refers to the approach or tool employed for a purpose.
- Example: "They used diplomacy as a means to resolve the conflict."
- Financial resources or income: Denotes wealth or monetary assets.
- Example: "He lives within his means to save money."
Verb (archaic)
- Third-person singular of "mean": Indicates what something signifies or implies.
- Example: "This word means something entirely different in another context."
means
They used diplomacy as a means to resolve the conflict.
He lives within his means to save money.
This word means something entirely different in another context.
🇨🇳 Mandarin
- 意味着 (yì wèi zhe) - Translates as 'means' in the sense of indicating or implying.
- IPA: /i˥˩ weɪ˥˩ ʈʂɤ˥˩/
- Respell: Yee Way Jeh
- 手段 (shǒu duàn) - Translates as 'means' in the sense of method or way.
- IPA: /ʂoʊ˨˩˦ twan˥˩/
- Respell: Shoh Dwan
🇮🇳 Hindi
- का अर्थ है (ka arth hai) - Translates as 'means' in the sense of indicating or implying.
- IPA: /kaː əɾt̪ʰ ɦɛː/
- Respell: Ka arth hai
- साधन (sādhan) - Translates as 'means' in the sense of method or way.
- IPA: /saːd̪ʱən/
- Respell: Saadhan
🇪🇸 Spanish
- Significa - Translates as 'means' in the sense of indicating or implying.
- IPA: /siɣˈniɸi.ka/
- Respell: Seegneefika
- Medios - Translates as 'means' in the sense of method or way.
- IPA: /ˈme.ðjos/
- Respell: Medhyos
🇫🇷 French
- Signifie - Translates as 'means' in the sense of indicating or implying.
- IPA: /siɲi.fi/
- Respell: Seen-yi-fee
- Moyens - Translates as 'means' in the sense of method or way.
- IPA: /mwa.jɛ̃/
- Respell: Mwa-yen
🇸🇦 Modern Standard Arabic
- يعني (ya`nī) - Translates as 'means' in the sense of indicating or implying.
- IPA: /jaʕniː/
- Respell: Ya'ni
- وسائل (wasa'il) - Translates as 'means' in the sense of method or way.
- IPA: /wa.saːʔil/
- Respell: Wasa'il
🇧🇩 Bengali
- মানে (mānē) - Translates as 'means' in the sense of indicating or implying.
- IPA: /maːne/
- Respell: Maane
- উপায় (upāẏa) - Translates as 'means' in the sense of method or way.
- IPA: /upaːja/
- Respell: Upaya
🇷🇺 Russian
- Значит (znachit) - Translates as 'means' in the sense of indicating or implying.
- IPA: /ˈznat͡ɕɪt/
- Respell: Znachit
- Средства (sredstva) - Translates as 'means' in the sense of method or way.
- IPA: /srʲɪt͡sˈtva/
- Respell: Sredstva
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- Significa - Translates as 'means' in the sense of indicating or implying.
- IPA: /siɣˈnifikɐ/
- Respell: Seegneefika
- Meios - Translates as 'means' in the sense of method or way.
- IPA: /ˈmɐj.juʃ/
- Respell: Mayyoosh
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- Berarti - Translates as 'means' in the sense of indicating or implying.
- IPA: /bə.ˈraːr.ti/
- Respell: Berarti
- Sarana - Translates as 'means' in the sense of method or way.
- IPA: /sa.ˈraː.na/
- Respell: Sarana
🇩🇪 German
- Bedeutet - Translates as 'means' in the sense of indicating or implying.
- IPA: /bəˈdɔʏ̯tət/
- Respell: Bedoytet
- Mittel - Translates as 'means' in the sense of method or way.
- IPA: /ˈmɪtl̩/
- Respell: Mittel
🇯🇵 Japanese
- 意味する (imi suru) - Translates as 'means' in the sense of indicating or implying.
- IPA: /i.mi su.ɾɯᵝ/
- Respell: Imi suru
- 手段 (shudan) - Translates as 'means' in the sense of method or way.
- IPA: /ɕɯᵝ.daɴ/
- Respell: Shudan
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- Nghĩa là - Translates as 'means' in the sense of indicating or implying.
- IPA: /ŋi˧ˀ˥ laː˧/
- Respell: Nghia la
- Phương tiện - Translates as 'means' in the sense of method or way.
- IPA: /fʊwŋ˧ˀ˥ tien˧/
- Respell: Phuong tien
🇰🇷 Korean
- 의미한다 (uimi handa) - Translates as 'means' in the sense of indicating or implying.
- IPA: /ɰi.mi ɦan.da/
- Respell: Uimi handa
- 수단 (sudan) - Translates as 'means' in the sense of method or way.
- IPA: /su.dan/
- Respell: Sudan
🇹🇷 Turkish
- Anlamına gelir - Translates as 'means' in the sense of indicating or implying.
- IPA: /aːn.laˈmɯ.na ɟe.lir/
- Respell: Anlamina gelir
- Araçlar - Translates as 'means' in the sense of method or way.
- IPA: /aːɾˈd͡ʒlaɾ/
- Respell: Arjlar
🇵🇰 Urdu
- کا مطلب ہے (ka matlab hai) - Translates as 'means' in the sense of indicating or implying.
- IPA: /kaː mʊt̪əlɪb ɦɛː/
- Respell: Ka matlab hai
- وسیلہ (waseela) - Translates as 'means' in the sense of method or way.
- IPA: /ʋəˈsiːlə/
- Respell: Waseela
