1of a word/sign etc 关于词/符号等的 [countableC, uncountableU]MEANING the thing or idea that a word, expression, or signrepresents 意义,意思,含义
meaning of
I don’t know the precise meaning of the word ‘gleaned’.
我不知道gleaned这个单词的确切意思。
2ideas in speech/book etc 演讲/书等中的观点 [countableC, uncountableU]MEANING the thoughts or ideas that someone wants you to understand from what they say, do, write etc 〔某人所说、所做、所写等想要表达的〕意思
meaning of
The meaning of her words was clear. We’d lost our jobs.
她的话意思很清楚,我们失业了。
meaning behind
She hardly dared to understand the meaning behind his statement.
她几乎不敢去想他话语背后的意思。
3what’s the meaning of this?spokenEXPLAIN used to demand an explanation 这是什么意思?〔用以要求作出解释〕
What’s the meaning of this? I asked you to be here an hour ago!
这是什么意思?我让你一小时之前就要到的!
Examples from the Corpus
what’s the meaning of this?• What's the meaning of this? I asked you to be here an hour ago!
4purpose/special quality 目标/特殊品质 [uncountableU]PURPOSE the quality that makes life, work etc seem to have a purpose or value 〔生活、工作等的〕意义
Life seemed to have lost its meaning since Janet’s death.
珍妮特去世以后生活似乎失去了意义。
Her studies no longer seemed to have any meaning.
她的研究似乎不再有任何意义。
For many people it is religion that gives meaning to their existence.
对于很多人来说,是宗教使他们的存在有了意义。
5true nature 本质 [uncountableU]MEANING the truenature and importance of something 〔某事物的〕意义,本质,重要性
meaning of
We seem to have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas.
我们似乎忘记了圣诞节的真正意义。
6(not) know the meaning of somethingUNDERSTANDto have, or not have, experience and understanding of a particular situation or feeling 对…(没)有体验和了解,(不)知道…的含义
Living in a war zone, the children knew the meaning of fear.
生活在战区,孩子们知道什么叫恐惧。
Guilty! She doesn’t know the meaning of the word!
内疚!她才不懂什么叫内疚呢!
Examples from the Corpus
(not) know the meaning of something• A dictionary is useless unless one already knows the meanings of many words.• He had a lot of things representing other things that no one but he knew the meaning of.• So I know the meaning ofcredit.• Some were struggling behind-but they did not really know the meaning of struggling.• Men like Luke Hunter didn't know the meaning of permanence - or fidelity.• MikeHardware was the kind of private eye who didn't know the meaning offear.• Willi didn't know the meaning ofrestraint, not in any aspect of his life.• For instance, we assume he would satisfy our behavioural criteria for being some one who knows the meaning of the word bank.• Regarding exercises: before attempting to answer a question do make sure you know the meaning of all the words in it!
COLLOCATIONS – Meanings 1 & 2
verbs
have a meaning 有含义
The same word may have several different meanings.
同一个单词可能会有几个不同的含义。
take on a meaning (=begin to have a new meaning) 开始具有一种新的含义
The word ‘chaos’ has taken on a special scientific meaning.
单词chaos多了一种特殊的科学含义。
understand the meaning 理解意思
The pictures help the children understand the meanings of the words.
这些图片可以帮助孩子们理解单词的意思。
know the meaning 知道意思
Do you know the meaning of the word ‘paraphrase’?
你知道paraphrase这个单词的意思吗?
get somebody’s meaning (also take somebody’s meaningBritish EnglishBrE) (=understand what someone is saying in an indirect way) 明白某人的意思
He’s not like other people, if you get my meaning.
他跟别人不一样,你明白我意思吧。
grasp the meaning (=begin to understand the meaning) 理解意思
nShe suddenly grasped the meaning of his frantic gestures.
carry meaning (also bear a meaning formal) (=have a meaning) 具有含义
nIn conversation, even a pause may carry meaning.
convey meaning (=express a meaning) 表达意思
nthe use of hand signals to convey meaning
adjectives
precise/specific/exact 准确的/明确的/确切的
The term ‘stress’ has a precise meaning to an engineer.
这个词对工程师来说有确切的含义。
a hidden meaning 隐含的意思
She felt there was a hidden meaning behind his words.
她觉得他话中有话。
a double meaning (=two meanings at the same time) 双重含义
Everything he said had a double meaning.
他每说一句话都语带双关。
the literal meaning 字面意思
The literal meaning of ‘telephone’ is ‘far-away sound’.
telephone的字面意思是“远处的声音”。
nthe ordinary meaning
They are a 'nuisance' in the ordinary meaning, not the legal meaning, of that word.
the figurative/metaphorical meaning (=different from its usual or basic meaning) 比喻/隐喻意义
nThe expression has a metaphorical meaning.
somebody’s/something’s true meaning 某人的真正意思/某事物的真正意义
nChildren understand the true meaning of these words.
na symbolic meaning (=representing an idea)
Colours often have symbolic meanings; for example, black signifies grief in Western cultures.
nTHESAURUS
Sense 2
meaning the thoughts or ideas that someone wants you to understand from what they say, do, write etc
What do you think is the meaning of the poem?
the gist the main idea and meaning of something such as an article or a speech
Read the story quickly first, just to get the gist of it.
I think I understand the gist of what you’re saying.
the drift/your drift the main set of ideas involved in something such as an explanation, argument, or account of something – often used when the ideas are not stated directly
The drift of his letter is that he wants to come back.
I don’t quite follow your drift.
the essence the most important meaning of something such as an argument or piece of writing
The essence of what he is saying is that human character is formed by society.
meaning of• The exactmeaning of the king's statement was not clear.• Use the examples to figure out the meaning of the word.• We want children to remember the true meaning of Christmas.
true meaning• But the true meaning of the word entrepreneur is farbroader.• He now knows the true meaning of annus horribilis.• The right legal answer, based on the true meaning of the Act, must be found and applied.• Father Tim saw at once that the truest meaning of the term captiveaudience was being demonstrated right before his eyes.• Even so, those with grace always know how to be graceful and she would probably understand the true meaning of the gesture.• It was too soon for anyone to understand the true meaning of what had happened.• The true meaning of love had nothing to do with possessing another person, settling down, marrying and having children.• A man needed specialexperience and insight to work true meanings out of certainmurkyremarks.