/mi:n ||; min/verb [T] (
past tense past participle meant /ment
||; mɛnt/)
1 (not used in the continuous tenses 不用于进行时) to express, show or have as a meaning 表达、表示或含有…的意思: What does this word mean? 这个词是什么意思？The bell means that the lesson has ended. 铃声表示这节课上完了。Does the name ‘Michael Potter’ mean anything to you? “迈克尔˙波特”这名字你有印象吗？
Although this verb is not used in the continuous tenses, it is common to see the present participle (= -ing form) The weather during filming was terrible, meaning that several scenes had to be reshot later. 虽然这个动词不用于进行时，但它的现在分词还是常见：The weather during filming was terrible, meaning that several scenes had to be reshot later.拍这部电影的过程中天气很恶劣，意味着有几个镜头后来不得不重拍。 2 to want or intend to say sth; to refer to sb/sth 想说；意指: Well, she said ‘yes’ but I think she really meant ‘no’. 唉，她说“是”，但我想她真正的意思是“不”。What do you mean by ‘a lot of money’? 你所说的“很多钱”是指什么？I only meant that I couldn't come tomorrow -- any other day would be fine. 我只是想说明天我不能来─其他日子都没有问题。 I see what you mean, but I'm afraid it's not possible. 我明白你的意思，但恐怕那是不可能的。 ☞ Mean cannot be used with the meaning ‘to have the opinion that’. We say: I think that... or In my opinion... I think that she'd be silly to buy that car. mean不指to have the opinion that（认为）。应说I think that...或in my opinion...：I think that she'd be silly to buy that car.我认为她要是买那辆车便很傻。 ☞ I mean is often used in conversation when you want to explain something you have just said or to add more information What a terrible summer -- I mean it's rained almost all the time. I mean is also used to correct something you have just said We went there on Tuesday, I mean Thursday. 在对话中，I mean常用于解释或补充所说的话：What a terrible summer -- I mean it's rained almost all the time.多么糟糕的夏天─我是指差不多整个夏天都下雨。I mean亦可用于更正刚才所说的话：We went there on Tuesday, I mean Thursday.我们星期二去了那里，我该说星期四才对。
3 (often passive 常用于被动语态) mean (sb) to do sth;mean sth (as/for sth/sb);mean sb/sth to be sth to intend sth; to be supposed to be/do sth 意欲；打算: I'm sure she didn't mean to upset you. 我肯定，她并不是有意要让你不高兴的。She meant the present to be for both of us. 她那件礼物是给我们两个人的。I didn't mean you to cook the whole meal! 我并不打算要你做整顿饭的！It was only meant as a joke. 这原本只是想开个玩笑。What's this picture meant to be? 这画想要画什么？
4 to make sth likely; to cause 意味着；引起: The shortage of teachers means that classes are larger. 教师短缺意味着每班学生人数增加。
5 mean sth (to sb) to be important to sb 对某人很重要: This job means a lot to me. 这份工作对我很重要。Money means nothing to her. 钱对她来说毫无意义。
6 to be serious or sincere about sth 对某事认真或真诚: He said he loved me but I don't think he meant it! 他说他爱我，但我认为他不是认真的！
be meant to be sth to be considered or said to be sth 据认为…；据说是…:
That restaurant is meant to be excellent. 那家餐馆口碑很好。 mean well to want to be kind and helpful but usually without success 怀有好意，出于好心（但通常帮不上忙）:
My mother means well but I wish she'd stop treating me like a child. 母亲是出于好意，但我希望她不要再把我当作小孩看待。