/ miːnz; NAmE / noun ( pl. means )
1.
[ C ] means (of doing sth / of sth) an action, an object or a system by which a result is achieved; a way of achieving or doing sth :
Television is an effective means of communication.
Is there any means of contacting him?
Have you any means of identification ?
We needed to get to London but we had no means of transport .
2.
[ pl. ] the money that a person has :
People should pay according to their means .
He doesn't have the means to support a wife and child.
Private school fees are beyond the means of most people (= more than they can afford).
Are the monthly repayments within your means (= can you afford them) ?
Try to live within your means (= not spend more money than you have).
a man of means (= a rich man)
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IDIOMS
- by all means
- by means of sth
- by no means | not by any (manner of) means
- a means to an end
—more at end noun , fair adjective , way noun
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : plural of mean (noun), the early sense being intermediary.