2 mean
Function:
adjectiveInflected forms:
mean·er; mean·estMeaning:
[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]
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]
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