ZebraWords.com - The Definition of 'Meaning', Synonyms of 'Meaning' & More on 'Meaning'

1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)

meaning
    adj 1: rich in significance or implication; "a meaning look"
           [syn: meaning(a), pregnant, significant]
    n 1: the message that is intended or expressed or signified;
         "what is the meaning of this sentence"; "the significance
         of a red traffic light"; "the signification of Chinese
         characters"; "the import of his announcement was ambiguous"
         [syn: meaning, significance, signification, import]
    2: the idea that is intended; "What is the meaning of this
       proverb?" [syn: meaning, substance]

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Mean \Mean\ (m[=e]n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Meant (m[e^]nt); p.
   pr. & vb. n. Meaning.] [OE. menen, AS. m[=ae]nan to recite,
   tell, intend, wish; akin to OS. m[=e]nian to have in mind,
   mean, D. meenen, G. meinen, OHG. meinan, Icel. meina, Sw.
   mena, Dan. mene, and to E. mind. [root]104. See Mind, and
   cf. Moan.]
   1. To have in the mind, as a purpose, intention, etc.; to
      intend; to purpose; to design; as, what do you mean to do?
      [1913 Webster]

            What mean ye by this service ?        --Ex. xii. 26.
      [1913 Webster]

            Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto
            good.                                 --Gen. 1. 20.
      [1913 Webster]

            I am not a Spaniard
            To say that it is yours and not to mean it.
                                                  --Longfellow.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To signify; to indicate; to import; to denote.
      [1913 Webster]

            What mean these seven ewe lambs ?     --Gen. xxi.
                                                  29.
      [1913 Webster]

            Go ye, and learn what that meaneth.   --Matt. ix.
                                                  13.
      [1913 Webster]

3. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Meaning \Mean"ing\, n.
   1. That which is meant or intended; intent; purpose; aim;
      object; as, a mischievous meaning was apparent.
      [1913 Webster]

            If there be any good meaning towards you. --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. That which is signified, whether by act lanquage;
      signification; sense; import; as, the meaning of a hint.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Sense; power of thinking. [R.]
      [1913 Webster] -- Mean"ing*less, a. -- Mean"ing*ly,
      adv.
      [1913 Webster]

Thesaurus Results for Meaning:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

acceptation, aim, allegory, allusion, ambition, animus, arcane meaning, aspiration, assumption, balefulness, banefulness, bodefulness, characterization, coloration, connotation, construction, content, counsel, definition, denomination, denotation, description, desideration, desideratum, design, designation, desire, determination, diagnosis, differentiation, direness, disclosure, doomfulness, drift, effect, essence, explanation, expression, fatality, fatefulness, fingering, fixed purpose, force, function, gist, hint, idea, identification, implication, implied meaning, import, indication, indicativeness, inference, innuendo, intendment, intent, intention, interpretation, intimation, ironic suggestion, manifestation, message, metaphorical sense, mind, motive, naming, nisus, nuance, occult meaning, ominousness, overtone, picking out, plan, point, pointing, pointing out, pointing to, portent, portentousness, presagefulness, presumption, presupposition, project, proposal, prospectus, purport, purpose, reading, resolution, resolve, sake, selection, sense, show, showing, significance, significancy, signification, sinisterness, specification, spirit, striving, study, subsense, subsidiary sense, substance, suggestion, suggestiveness, sum and substance, supposition, symbolism, symptomaticness, tenor, tinge, touch, undercurrent, undermeaning, understanding, undertone, value, view, way of seeing, will

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