Mean
Definition
(adj) : Unkind, cruel, or not willing to share.
(n) : The average of numbers.
Example
"(v) : What does this word mean?"
"(adj) : It is mean of you to laugh at someone's mistake, making them feel embarrassed."
"(n) : The mean of 10, 15, and 20 is 15, which is the average number."
Explanation
The word mean has three main uses. As a verb, it tells what something stands for or expresses. For example, “What does this word mean?” As an adjective, it describes someone who is not nice, cruel, or not willing to share, like “He was mean to his little brother” or “They are mean with their money.” Sometimes it also shows something average or ordinary in everyday speech. For example, “They lived in a mean little house”. In informal use, it can also mean very good, skillful, or impressive, like “She plays a mean guitar.” In mathematics, it shows the middle or average of numbers. To find the mean, you add all the numbers together and then divide by how many numbers there are. For example, “The mean of 4, 6, and 8 is 6”, because (4 + 6 + 8) ÷ 3 = 6.