/ maɪnd; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
ABILITY TO THINK
1.
[ C , U ] the part of a person that makes them able to be aware of things, to think and to feel :
the conscious / subconscious mind
There were all kinds of thoughts running through my mind.
There was no doubt in his mind that he'd get the job.
'Drugs' are associated in most people's minds with drug abuse.
She was in a disturbed state of mind .
I could not have complete peace of mind before they returned.
—see also frame of mind , presence of mind
2.
[ C ] your ability to think and reason; your intelligence; the particular way that sb thinks
SYN intellect :
to have a brilliant / good / keen mind
a creative / evil / suspicious mind
She had a lively and enquiring mind.
His mind is as sharp as ever.
I've no idea how her mind works!
He had the body of a man and the mind of a child.
insights into the criminal mind
—see also one-track mind
INTELLIGENT PERSON
3.
[ C ] a person who is very intelligent :
She was one of the greatest minds of her generation.
SYN brain
—see also mastermind
THOUGHTS
4.
[ C ] your thoughts, interest, etc. :
Keep your mind on your work!
Her mind is completely occupied by the new baby.
The lecture dragged on and my mind wandered.
He gave his mind to the arrangements for the next day.
As for avoiding you, nothing could be further from my mind (= I was not thinking of it at all) .
MEMORY
5.
[ C , usually sing. ] your ability to remember things :
When I saw the exam questions my mind just went blank (= I couldn't remember anything) .
Sorry—your name has gone right out of my mind.
•
IDIOMS
- be all in sb's / the mind
- bear / keep sb/sth in mind | bear / keep in mind that ...
- be bored, frightened, pissed, stoned, etc. out of your mind
- be / go out of your mind
- be in two minds about sth / about doing sth
- be of one / the same mind (about sb/sth)
- be out of your mind with worry, etc.
- bring / call sb/sth to mind
- come / spring to mind
- have a good mind to do sth | have half a mind to do sth
- have sb/sth in mind (for sth)
- have it in mind to do sth
- have a mind of your own
- lose your mind
- make up your mind | make your mind up
- mind over matter
- your mind's eye
- on your mind
- put / get sth out of your mind
- put sb in mind of sb/sth
- put / set sb's mind at ease / rest
- put / set / turn your mind to sth | set your mind on sth
- take your mind off sth
- to my mind
—more at back noun , bend verb , blow verb , boggle , cast verb , change verb , change noun , close (I) verb , cross verb , etch , great adjective , know verb , meeting , open adjective , open verb , piece noun , prey verb , push verb , right adjective , sieve noun , sight noun , slip verb , speak , stick verb , turn noun , unsound
■ verb
BE UPSET / ANNOYED
1.
(used especially in questions or with negatives; not used in the passive) to be upset, annoyed or worried by sth :
[ vn ]
I don't mind the cold—it's the rain I don't like.
I hope you don't mind the noise.
[ v , v -ing ]
Did she mind about not getting the job?
Did she mind not getting the job?
[ v ]
He wouldn't have minded so much if she'd told him the truth.
[ vn -ing ]
Do your parents mind you leaving home?
( formal )
Do your parents mind your leaving home?
[ v wh- ]
She never minded how hot it was.
[ v that ]
He minded that he hadn't been asked.
ASKING PERMISSION
2.
used to ask for permission to do sth, or to ask sb in a polite way to do sth : [ v ]
Do you mind if I open the window?
[ vn -ing ]
Are you married, if you don't mind me asking?
( formal )
Are you married, if you don't mind my asking?
[ v -ing ]
Would you mind explaining that again, please?
Do you mind driving? I'm feeling pretty tired.
NOT CARE / WORRY
3.
not mind [ no passive ] to not care or not be concerned about sth :
[ v ]
'Would you like tea or coffee?' 'I don't mind—either's fine.'
[ vn ]
Don't mind her—she didn't mean what she said.
Don't mind me (= don't let me disturb you) —I'll just sit here quietly.
BE WILLING
4.
not mind doing sth [ vn -ing ] to be willing to do sth :
I don't mind helping if you can't find anyone else.
WARNING
5.
( BrE ) (also watch NAmE , BrE ) used to tell sb to be careful about sth or warn them about a danger : [ vn ]
Mind (= Don't fall on) that step!
Mind your head! (= for example, be careful you don't hit it on a low ceiling)
Mind your language! (= don't speak in a rude or offensive way)
[ v wh- ]
Mind how you go! (= often used when you say goodbye to sb)
Mind where you're treading!
[ v ( that )]
Mind you don't cut yourself—that knife's very sharp.
You must be home for dinner, mind.
HELP NOTE : 'That' is nearly always left out in this pattern.
OBEY
6.
( NAmE , IrishE ) [ vn ] to pay attention to what sb says, and obey them :
And the moral of the story is: always mind your mother!
TAKE CARE OF
7.
( especially BrE ) ( NAmE usually watch ) [ vn ] to take care of sb/sth
SYN look after :
Who's minding the children this evening?
Could you mind my bags for a moment?
•
IDIOMS
- do you mind?
- I don't mind admitting, telling you ... , etc.
- I don't mind if I do
- if you don't mind | if you wouldn't mind
- if you don't mind me / my saying so ...
- I wouldn't mind sth / doing sth
- mind your own business
- mind the shop
- mind you
- mind your Ps and Qs
- never mind
- never mind (about) (doing) sth
- never you mind
—more at step noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- mind out
- mind out (for sb/sth)
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English gemynd memory, thought , of Germanic origin, from an Indo-European root meaning revolve in the mind, think, shared by Sanskrit manas and Latin mens mind.