2mean adjective
mean·er; mean·est [also more mean; most mean] 1 somewhat informal a : not kind to people : cruel or harsh
▪ My boss is a mean and nasty old man who treats everyone badly. ▪ the mean stepmother in the fairy tale ▪ Why are you being so mean to me? [=why are you treating me so harshly?] ▪ It was mean of them not to invite her to the party. ▪ Someone played a mean trick on her. ▪ He has a mean streak.
b chiefly US : very dangerous : vicious
▪ a mean dog 2 chiefly Brit : not liking to spend money : stingy, cheap
▪ He's a mean man who never gives presents to anyone. ▪ He's very mean with his money. 3 old-fashioned + literary : of poor quality or status
▪ mean city streets ▪ living in mean circumstances 4 chiefly US, informal : excellent or impressive
▪ He plays a mean trumpet. = He's a mean trumpet player. [=he plays the trumpet very well] ▪ an athlete who describes himself as a lean, mean scoring machine ▪ We wanted our business to be lean and mean. [=to be efficient and successful]
▪ My boss is a mean and nasty old man who treats everyone badly. ▪ the mean stepmother in the fairy tale ▪ Why are you being so mean to me? [=why are you treating me so harshly?] ▪ It was mean of them not to invite her to the party. ▪ Someone played a mean trick on her. ▪ He has a mean streak.
b chiefly US : very dangerous : vicious
▪ a mean dog
▪ He's a mean man who never gives presents to anyone. ▪ He's very mean with his money.
▪ mean city streets ▪ living in mean circumstances
▪ He plays a mean trumpet. = He's a mean trumpet player. [=he plays the trumpet very well] ▪ an athlete who describes himself as a lean, mean scoring machine ▪ We wanted our business to be lean and mean. [=to be efficient and successful]
no mean
informal — used to say that something is good or impressive ▪ a tennis player of no mean ability [=a very good tennis player] ▪ Getting the project done on time will be no mean feat. [=will be a difficult and impressive accomplishment]
— compare 3mean
— mean·ly 
/ˈmi:nli/ adverb
▪ behaving/living meanly ▪ a meanly ambitious man
/ˈmi:nli/ adverb ▪ behaving/living meanly ▪ a meanly ambitious man
— mean·ness /ˈmi:nnəs/ noun [noncount]
▪ the meanness of her character ▪ meanness of spirit
/ˈmi:nnəs/ noun [noncount] ▪ the meanness of her character ▪ meanness of spirit
