INDEX:
1. the meaning of something
2. the main meaning of something
3. to have a particular meaning
4. to intend a particular meaning
5. when something has a meaning that is not directly stated
6. to believe that something has a particular meaning
7. someone’s opinion about the meaning of something
8. to be the most basic meaning of a statement
9. when it is not clear which meaning is intended
10. having no meaning
RELATED WORDS
see also
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1. the meaning of something
▷ meaning /ˈmiːnɪŋ/ [countable/uncountable noun]
what a word, sign, or statement means :
▪ This word ‘spring’ has several different meanings.
▪ We convey meaning not only by our words but also by our actions.
meaning of
▪ There is a chart that explains the meaning of all the symbols on the map.
hidden meaning
a meaning that is not directly stated
▪ Was there a hidden meaning behind his words?
▷ sense /sens/ [countable noun]
one of the meanings of a word that has several meanings :
sense of
▪ In the dictionary the different senses of each word are marked by numbers.
in its broadest/fullest sense
in the most general meaning of the word
▪ I’m using the word ‘education’ in its broadest sense here.
▷ significance /sɪgˈnɪfɪkəns/ [uncountable noun]
the important meaning that something has, especially if the meaning is not immediately clear :
significance of
▪ Freud explained the significance of some of the objects and situations in Anna’s dream.
special significance
▪ Nothing can be more exciting than the first time you receive red roses. They have special significance.
▷ definition /ˌdefɪˈnɪʃ ə n, ˌdefəˈnɪʃ ə n/ [countable noun]
the way that you explain the meaning of a word :
definition of
▪ Could one of the class give me a definition of the word ‘equilibrium’?
somebody’s definition of something
▪ Obviously your definition of ‘rich’ is very different from mine.
▷ connotation /ˌkɒnəˈteɪʃ ə nǁˌkɑː-/ [countable noun]
a feeling or an idea that a word makes you think of that is not its actual meaning :
▪ ‘Bermuda’ with its connotations of fun and sun
positive/negative connotation
▪ For most people ‘motherhood’ has a very positive connotation.
▷ define /dɪˈfaɪn/ [transitive verb]
to explain the meaning of a word or phrase :
▪ Each of us might define the concept of freedom in a slightly different way.
define something as something
▪ The dictionary defines it as ‘a narrow passage’.
define something loosely/broadly
define something in a way that is not very exact
▪ Dietary fibre can be loosely defined as the cell-wall material of plants.
2. the main meaning of something
▷ point /pɔɪnt/ [singular noun]
the main idea of an argument, discussion, statement etc that shows its general or most important meaning :
the point of something
▪ The point of the story did not emerge until the end of the film.
somebody’s point
▪ What’s your point? Do you think I’m not good enough for your daughter?
miss the point
not understand the main idea
▪ The talk was about symbolism in art -- Len missed the point and thought it was about painting techniques.
the point is....
used for mentioning the most important thing
▪ The point is, you should have told me where you were going.
come/get to the point
to reach the most important part of what you want to say
▪ ‘I’ll come straight to the point,’ said the doctor. ‘I think you are suffering from depression.’
▷ gist /dʒɪst/ [singular noun]
the main idea and meaning of something such as an article or a speech :
the gist of something
▪ I don’t know the whole story but this is the gist of it.
get the gist (of something)
understand the gist of something
▪ Read the article once through to get the gist of it.
▪ Students are encouraged to read the text, getting the gist, then go deeper into the meaning.
▷ essence /ˈes ə ns/ [singular noun]
the most important meaning of something such as an argument or piece of writing :
the essence of something
▪ The essence of his argument is that human character is formed by society.
▷ drift /drɪft/ [singular noun]
the main set of ideas involved in something such as an explanation, argument, or account of something :
the drift of something
▪ The drift of his letter is that he wants to come back.
catch/get/follow somebody’s drift
understand the basic idea of what someone is saying
▪ It was a complicated argument but I think I caught his drift.
▪ I follow your drift, but I just don’t believe it.
▷ thrust /θrʌst/ [singular noun]
the most important message of an argument, explanation etc, especially when it consists of a set of connected ideas leading to a final answer or idea :
the thrust of something
▪ It is difficult to argue with the thrust of Davidson’s analysis of the situation.
▪ The overall thrust of her argument was that women are still oppressed in all areas of life.
▷ substance /ˈsʌbstəns/ [singular noun] formal
the most important ideas contained in an argument or piece of writing :
the substance of something
▪ The substance of Marx’s views is the same in both of these books.
3. to have a particular meaning
▷ mean /miːn/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
to have a particular meaning - use this about words, signs, or statements :
▪ What does ‘abandon’ mean?
▪ ‘Poultry’ means chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese.
▪ It says ‘not suitable for children’, which means anyone under 16.
mean (that)
▪ The flashing light means we’re running out of gas.
▪ ‘Downsizing’ simply means that firms are tending to buy smaller computers to do jobs which used to require big ones.
what is meant by something
▪ What is meant by the term ‘random access’?
▷ stand for /ˈstænd fɔː/ [transitive phrasal verb]
if a letter or group of letters stands for a word, name, or number, it is a short way of saying or writing it :
▪ NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
▪ What does the F in John F. Kennedy stand for?
▷ represent /ˌreprɪˈzent/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
if a shape, letter, object etc represents something, it is used as a sign for that thing in a map, plan, calculation etc :
▪ The red lines on the map represent railways.
▪ Single letters or combinations of letters represent different phonetic sounds.
▷ symbolize also symbolise British /ˈsɪmbəlaɪz/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
if something such as an object or animal symbolizes an idea or quality, it is used as a sign to mean that idea or quality, especially in a story, a ceremony, or a particular society :
▪ The lion symbolizes strength, the lamb symbolizes gentleness.
▪ In Europe, the colour white symbolizes purity but in Asia it is often the symbol of deep mourning.
▪ Cowardice is symbolized in the painting by the white feathers on the soldier’s coat.
▷ denote /dɪˈnəʊt/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
if a word or number denotes something, it means it in a very exact sense - used especially in technical contexts :
▪ The dotted line on the graph denotes profits.
▪ The English word ‘family’ used to denote all the people in the house, including servants.
▪ The quantity denoted by the letter E varies from experiment to experiment.
▷ connote /kəˈnəʊt/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
if a word connotes something, it makes you think of feelings and ideas that are not its actual meaning :
▪ The word ‘jolly’ often connotes that someone is fat.
4. to intend a particular meaning
▷ mean /miːn/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
to intend a particular meaning when you say something :
▪ When you said ‘the editor’, did you mean me?
▪ He said Sarah was a very close friend, but I’m not sure what he meant.
mean (that)
▪ I meant that we would have to leave early, that’s all.
if you know what I mean
used to show that you are saying something in a less extreme way than you really mean
▪ She’s kind of irritable, if you know what I mean.
what somebody means is that...
▪ So what he means is that we’ll have to start the whole thing again.
▪ What I meant was that I wouldn’t have time to help, not that I didn’t want to.
5. when something has a meaning that is not directly stated
▷ suggest /səˈdʒestǁsəg-/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
if a statement, fact, event etc suggests that something is true, it seems to mean that it is true or could be true, but this is not directly stated :
▪ It is still not clear what these facts suggest -- perhaps a new strain of the virus, or a completely new virus.
suggest (that)
▪ All the evidence suggests that the problem has improved in recent years.
▪ The victim had marks on his neck which seemed to suggest he had been strangled.
▷ imply /ɪmˈplaɪ/ [transitive verb not in progressive]
if a statement, fact, event etc implies that something is true, it suggests very strongly that it is true :
▪ His criticisms implied a lack of confidence in my work.
imply (that)
▪ The way he greeted the boys seemed to imply that he knew them quite well.
▪ Just the fact that he’s written to you implies he likes you.
▷ say /seɪ/ [transitive verb]
to say something in an indirect way - use this especially when you are saying what the real meaning of a statement is :
▪ What do you think the writer is saying in this story?
say (that)
▪ Are you saying I’m fat?
▪ So what you’re saying, Mr President, is that you don’t have a policy on this issue.
▷ implication /ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃ ə n, ˌɪmpləˈkeɪʃ ə n/ [countable/uncountable noun]
a meaning that is not directly stated, but which seems to be intended :
▪ He didn’t actually accuse me of stealing, but that was the implication.
implication that
▪ Staff members were asked to work on Sundays, with the implication that they would lose their jobs if they refused.
by implication
the intended meaning is that
▪ The law bans organized protests and, by implication, any form of opposition.
▷ undertone /ˈʌndəʳtəʊn/ [countable noun]
a feeling or attitude that seems to be part of a statement, even though it is not directly stated :
▪ a story with racist undertones
undertone of
▪ There was an unmistakable undertone of nationalist resentment in many of their remarks.
6. to believe that something has a particular meaning
▷ interpret /ɪnˈtɜːʳprɪt, ɪnˈtɜːʳprət/ [transitive verb]
to choose to believe that what someone says or does has a particular meaning, especially if it is not easy to understand or is not completely clear :
▪ How would you interpret her letter? Is she really hostile or just being ironic?
▪ This dream can be interpreted in several different ways.
interpret something as something
▪ I interpreted her silence as anger.
▪ They are worried that the workers might interpret the new law as a restriction of their rights.
▷ understand something to mean /ʌndəʳˌstænd something tə ˈmiːn/ [verb phrase]
to think that something has a particular meaning even though you cannot be completely sure that this is what it means :
▪ Democracy was originally understood to mean the people governing themselves.
▪ The Victorians understood ‘The environment’ to mean the background to human activity, in particular, industrial activity.
▷ read into /ˈriːd ɪntuː/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to think that something has a meaning that it does not in fact have, especially by thinking that it is more important than it really is :
read something into something
▪ Be careful not to read your own modern opinions into this story.
▪ The statement criticized journalists for reading too much into what he had said about the war.
read into something something
▪ Some critics have read into the more macabre scenes a subconscious hatred of his parents.
▷ take something as /ˈteɪk æz something/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to believe that what someone does or says has a particular meaning, especially if you think it shows their attitude towards you :
take something as an insult/compliment/criticism etc
▪ Had he spoken like this to anyone else, it would have been taken as an insult.
▪ I take it as a compliment when my students ask questions after class.
take something as a sign/signal etc
▪ The investors took this interest rate cut as a sign that the Government was desperate.
▷ infer /ɪnˈfɜːʳ/ [transitive verb] formal
to think that something is true because another fact makes it seem likely, even though it does not prove it completely :
▪ From this, astronomers can infer the presence of many more ‘black holes’.
infer (from something) that
▪ It seems reasonable to infer that the cause was not sabotage but a simple accident.
▪ We can infer from the archaeological evidence that there was slavery in Carthage.
▷ read between the lines /ˌriːd bɪtwiːn ðə ˈlaɪnz/ [verb phrase]
to guess the real meaning of something by thinking very carefully and noticing that the meaning is different from what it at first seems to be :
▪ Perseverance is required to understand the story and you have to read between the lines to find the book’s full meaning.
reading between the lines
used to say what you think the real situation is
▪ Reading between the lines, I don’t think they want to train people who might soon leave the company.
7. someone’s opinion about the meaning of something
▷ interpretation /ɪnˌtɜːʳprɪˈteɪʃ ə n, ɪnˌtɜːʳprəˈteɪʃ ə n/ [countable/uncountable noun]
someone’s opinion about the probable meaning of a statement, result, someone’s actions etc :
▪ One possible interpretation is that they want you to resign.
interpretation of
▪ the traditional interpretation of Marx’s opinions
be open to interpretation
to be able to be interpreted in more than one way
▪ The word ‘reasonable’ is vague and open to interpretation.
▷ understanding /ˌʌndəʳˈstændɪŋ/ [singular noun]
someone’s opinion about the meaning of a piece of writing or an action, used especially when they realize that there are other possible meanings :
somebody’s understanding (of something)
▪ According to my understanding of the letter, it means something quite different.
▪ That was not my understanding of the regulations, and I resent your accusation that I failed to follow them correctly.
▷ reading /ˈriːdɪŋ/ [singular noun]
someone’s opinion about the meaning of a statement, an event, or a situation after considering all the available information :
somebody’s reading of something
▪ What’s your reading of the latest trade figures?
▪ My reading of the situation is that this conflict is likely to get worse over the next few months.
8. to be the most basic meaning of a statement
▷ basically/essentially /ˈbeɪsɪkli, ɪˈsenʃ ə li/ [adverb]
you say basically or essentially as a way of introducing the general meaning of a longer or more complicated statement :
▪ I won’t read it all to you, but basically they want us to leave the house.
▪ Basically, the author is in favour of disarmament but with a few reservations.
▪ This is essentially the same argument that Arnold used in ‘Culture and Anarchy’.
▷ boil down to/come down to /ˌbɔɪl ˈdaʊn tuː, ˌkʌm ˈdaʊn tə/ [transitive phrasal verb not in progressive]
if a long statement, argument, discussion etc boils down to or comes down to a simple fact, that is its simplest and most important meaning :
▪ The argument boiled down to him saying I did and me saying I didn’t.
▪ That’s what it boils down to then: he’s not prepared to help us.
▪ They make a variety of points, but what their complaints come down to is, no one seems to care.
▷ amount to /əˈmaʊnt tuː/ [transitive phrasal verb not in progressive]
if a statement amounts to something, that is what it means or that is the effect it has, especially if this is something that the person making the statement was deliberately trying to avoid :
▪ The fact that he said he was sorry after the accident amounts to a confession of guilt.
▪ Their request for better working conditions amounted to a criticism of the management.
▷ in other words /ɪn ˌʌðəʳ ˈwɜːʳdz/ [adverb]
you say in other words when you are going to make clear the meaning of something you have just said, using simpler words :
▪ He prides himself on his powers of persuasion -- or, in other words, his salesmanship.
▪ The books and materials are kept on closed access, in other words available only to the library staff.
▷ to that effect /tə ˌðæt ɪˈfekt/ [adverb]
you say that someone said something to that effect, when you are giving the general meaning of what they said, even if you do not use the same words :
▪ I thought he was wrong and I said something to that effect at dinner.
words to that effect
▪ James said he was unhappy in his work or words to that effect.
9. when it is not clear which meaning is intended
▷ ambiguous /æmˈbɪgjuəs/ [adjective]
having more than one possible meaning, so that it is not clear which meaning is intended :
▪ Unfortunately the instructions were ambiguous and we didn’t know which part of the program to run.
▪ She left a very ambiguous message on the answerphone last night.
▪ The results of the experiments were ambiguous and they will have to be done again.
ambiguously [adverb]
▪ The declaration was ambiguously worded.
10. having no meaning
▷ meaningless /ˈmiːnɪŋləs/ [adjective]
something that is meaningless has no meaning, and is therefore useless, wrong, or stupid :
▪ I wish politicians would tell us the truth, instead of repeating their meaningless prepared answers.
▪ The statement issued by the authorities was meaningless.
▪ It is meaningless to ask what is ‘real’ or ‘imaginary’ in a story.
▷ nonsense /ˈnɒns ə nsǁˈnɑːnsens/ [uncountable noun]
speech or writing that has no meaning :
▪ He described her comments as confused nonsense.
talk nonsense
▪ I don’t intend to waste any more time listening to you talk nonsense.
▷ gobbledygook /ˈgɒb ə ldiguːkǁˈgɑːb ə ldigʊk, -guːk/ [uncountable noun] informal
complicated language, especially in an official document, that seems to have no meaning :
▪ I can’t understand all this legal gobbledygook.