means
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++means /miːnz/ ●●○ S3 W2 noun (plural means) 1 method 方法 [countable]WAY/METHOD a way of doing or achieving something 手段；方法；工具means of For most people, the car is still their main means of transport. 对大多数人来说汽车仍是他们主要的交通工具。 The only means of communication was sign language. 唯一的交流方法是手语。 The window was our only means of escape. 跳窗是我们唯一的逃生方法。 Do you have any means of identification? 你有什么身份证明文件吗？ art as a means of expression 作为一种表达方式的艺术 Homework should not be used as a means of controlling children. 家庭作业不应该作为约束儿童的手段。 I had no means of telling him I would be late. 我没有办法告诉他我会迟到。 Brian was prepared to use any means to get what he wanted. 布赖恩准备不择手段地得到他想要的。 They had entered the country by unlawful means. 他们通过非法途径进入了这个国家。 the means by which performance is assessed 评估表现的手段► see thesaurus at method2 money 钱 [plural]BEWMONEY the money or income that you have 钱；收入have the means to do something I don’t have the means to support a family. 我没有钱养家。 Paying for your children to go to a private school is beyond the means of most people (=too expensive for most people). 出钱送孩子上私立学校是大多数人无力承担的。 Try to live within your means (=only spending what you can afford). 过日子要尽可能量入为出。 His father was a man of means (=a rich man). 他父亲很有钱。3 by all means! spokenLET/ALLOW used to mean ‘of course’ when politely allowing someone to do something or agreeing with a suggestion 当然可以！ ‘Can I bring Alan?’ ‘By all means!’ “我能带艾伦来吗？”“当然可以！”4 by no means/not by any means UNCERTAINnot at all 决不，一点都不 It is by no means certain that the game will take place. 比赛是否会举行完全不能确定。 She’s not a bad kid, by any means. 她不是个坏孩子，绝对不是。5 by means of something WAY/METHOD formal using a particular method or system 借助某事物，以某种方法 The blocks are raised by means of pulleys. 那些大块物件是用滑轮吊起来的。6 a means to an end RESULTsomething that you do only to achieve a result, not because you want to do it or because it is important 达到目的的手段 For Geoff, the job was simply a means to an end. 对杰夫来说，那份工作仅仅是达到目的的手段而已。7. the means of production TIPEthe material, tools, and equipment that are used in the production of goods 生产资料 → ways and means at way1(1)n COLLOCATIONSadjectivesan effective/efficient meansSpeed bumps are an effective means of stopping cars from going too fast.a useful meansLocal radio is a useful means of advertising.the only meansThen, horses and carts were the only means of transport available.the best meansIs this really the best means of achieving our goal?an important meansSurveys are an important means of gathering information.lawful/legal meansTheir protests will continue, but only by legal means.unlawful/illegal meansHe was accused of attempting to overthrow the government using unlawful means.unfair meansAnyone trying to use unfair means in an examination will be reported to the University.phrasesa means of transport British English, a means of transportation American English (=a way of travelling, for example using a car, bus, bicycle etc)The tram is an efficient means of transport.a means of communication (=a way of talking to someone, for example by phone, writing etc)Newspapers are still an important means of communication.a means of expression (=a way of expressing your feelings or opinions)Music and art are important means of expression.a means of identification (=an official document that shows who you are)Do you have any means of identification?the means of production (=factories and equipment used for producing goods – used especially in Marxism)the class of people which owns the means of production the end justifies the means (=the result you achieve is more important than the way you do it)It’s too bad if people get hurt - the end justifies the means.a means to an end (=something you do only to achieve a result, not because you want to do it or because it is important)Many of the students saw the course as a means to an end: a way of getting a good job.(whether) by fair means or foul (=using unfair methods if necessary)They were determined to achieve victory, by fair means or foul.verbshave no/any/some means of doing somethingThere was no path, and they had no means of knowing where they were.use any/every means to do something (=use any method or many methods)He will use any means to get what he wants.
Examples from the Corpus
means• The operation of rental and freehold land markets is compared to inheritance as a means of access to land.• You should not regard the course simply as a means to an end.• The lord lieutenancy was originally devised by the Tudors as a means of internal security.• If a customer inquires about a better interest rate or a tax deferral plan, by all means make a referral.• He came to power by means of a military coup in 1960.• Education and training are the most effective means of improving the nation's economy.• She was required to pay a $500 fee, which appeared to be within her means.• E-mail has become an increasingly important means of business communication.• Many tropical countries welcome people of independent means as long-term residents.• The Council is introducing means tests for housing tenants.• The best choice for elderly people with limited means is index-linked certificates.• A university professor who used his modest means to collect over 300 valuable artworks has donated them to the National Gallery.• I think private schooling would be well beyond our means.• We aim to use peaceful means to bring about change.• He's given up his lecturing job, but he does have private means.• One of the simplest means is to buy a tally counter.• He had the means to pay, but he refused on principle.• The judge ruled that Smith had been elected by unlawful means.by unlawful means• The other forms of the tort require interference by unlawful means.man of means• He is clearly a man of means, Holmes: not only is the suit expensive, but the shoes also.• On such journeys men of means and their families wanted for nothing.From Longman Business Dictionarymeansmeans /miːnz/ noun [plural] the money and resources that a person or organization has availablemeans to do somethingLarge corporations have the means to pay large fines without suffering hardship.The group has limited means.young families and people of modest meansImproving the lot of the poor was beyond the city’s financial means. → independent meansmeans noun →n COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChinese
Business of doing way Corpus something a or achieving
See mean for more
means
means S2 W2 /miːnz/
noun (plural means)
1. METHOD [countable] a way of doing or achieving something
means of
For most people, the car is still their main means of transport.
The only means of communication was sign language.
The window was our only means of escape.
Do you have any means of identification?
art as a means of expression
Homework should not be used as a means of controlling children.
I had no means of telling him I would be late.
Brian was prepared to use any means to get what he wanted.
They had entered the country by unlawful means.
the means by which performance is assessed
2. MONEY [plural] the money or income that you have
have the means to do something
I don’t have the means to support a family.
Paying for your children to go to a private school is beyond the means of most people (=too expensive for most people).
Try to live within your means (=only spending what you can afford).
His father was a man of means (=a rich man).
3. by all means__ spoken used to mean ‘of course’ when politely allowing someone to do something or agreeing with a suggestion:
‘Can I bring Alan?’ ‘By all means__’
4. by no means/not by any means not at all:
It is by no means certain that the game will take place.
She’s not a bad kid, by any means.
5. by means of something formal using a particular method or system:
The blocks are raised by means of pulleys.
6. a means to an end something that you do only to achieve a result, not because you want to do it or because it is important:
For Geoff, the job was simply a means to an end.
7. the means of production the material, tools, and equipment that are used in the production of goods
⇨ ways and means at way1(1)
■ adjectives
▪an effective/efficient means Speed bumps are an effective means of stopping cars from going too fast.
▪a useful means Local radio is a useful means of advertising.
▪the only means Then, horses and carts were the only means of transport available.
▪the best means Is this really the best means of achieving our goal?
▪an important means Surveys are an important means of gathering information.
▪lawful/legal means Their protests will continue, but only by legal means.
▪unlawful/illegal means He was accused of attempting to overthrow the government using unlawful means.
▪unfair means Anyone trying to use unfair means in an examination will be reported to the University.
■ phrases
▪a means of transport British English, a means of transportation American English (=a way of travelling, for example using a car, bus, bicycle etc) The tram is an efficient means of transport.
▪a means of communication (=a way of talking to someone, for example by phone, writing etc) Newspapers are still an important means of communication.
▪a means of expression (=a way of expressing your feelings or opinions) Music and art are important means of expression.
▪a means of identification (=an official document that shows who you are) Do you have any means of identification?
▪the means of production (=factories and equipment used for producing goods - used especially in Marxism) the class of people which owns the means of production
▪the end justifies the means (=the result you achieve is more important than the way you do it) It’s too bad if people get hurt - the end justifies the means.
▪a means to an end (=something you do only to achieve a result, not because you want to do it or because it is important) Many of the students saw the course as a means to an end: a way of getting a good job.
▪(whether) by fair means or foul (=using unfair methods if necessary) They were determined to achieve victory, by fair means or foul.
■ verbs
▪have no/any/some means of doing something There was no path, and they had no means of knowing where they were.
▪use any/every means to do something (=use any method or many methods) He will use any means to get what he wants.
▪ method a way of doing something, especially one that is well known and often used: You can choose whichever method of payment you prefer. | an environmentally friendly method for treating household waste
▪way a set of actions that you use in order to do something. Way is more informal than method and is used more often in everyday English: What’s the best way to remove wine stains? | a new way of treating the disease | There are lots of ways of cooking mushrooms.
▪means something that you use to do something or achieve something: Their main means of transport is their car. | E-mail is often the most convenient means of communication. | He looked around for a means of escape. | Education and training are the most efficient means of improving the nation’s economy.
▪approach a way of dealing with a particular problem or situation, especially a way that has been carefully thought about or planned: Today’s approach to raising children is very different from 40 years ago. | I think we need to try a different approach.
▪technique a particular way of doing something, for which you need a skill that has to be learned and practised: tips on how to improve your exam technique | More patients are surviving thanks to improved surgical techniques.
▪tactics methods that you use in order to achieve what you want, especially in a game or competition: There were complaints about police tactics used to clear demonstrators. | The team was discussing tactics for the game.
▪strategy a set of carefully planned methods for achieving something that is difficult and may take a long time: our sales strategy | a strategy to reduce the level of teenage smoking
▪mode formal a particular way of doing something: For him, painting is just another mode of expression. | You can choose between several different modes of operation. | the most efficient mode of transportation | Withdrawing a child from class is still the preferred mode of providing extra help to that child.
means S2 W2 /miːnz/
noun (plural means)1. METHOD [countable] a way of doing or achieving something
means of
2. MONEY [plural] the money or income that you have
have the means to do something
3. by all means__ spoken used to mean ‘of course’ when politely allowing someone to do something or agreeing with a suggestion:
4. by no means/not by any means not at all:
5. by means of something formal using a particular method or system:
6. a means to an end something that you do only to achieve a result, not because you want to do it or because it is important:
7. the means of production the material, tools, and equipment that are used in the production of goods
⇨ ways and means at way1(1)
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