english
1
general::
noun
intention:
I don't understand your meaning.
Simple Definitions
2
general::
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.
the thrust
the most important message of an argument, explanation etc, especially when it consists of a set of connected ideas leading to a final answer or idea:
• The overall thrust of her argument is that we need to do more to protect our environment.
the substance
formal the most important ideas contained in an argument or piece of writing:
• The substance of Marx’s views is the same in both of these books. • His article lacks substance (= there are no interesting or important ideas in it ) .
the implication
the meaning of what someone says, writes etc that is not stated directly, but that people are expected to understand:
• The implication was that they did not consider Harrison to be trustworthy.
Longman-Thesaurus
3
general::
meaning
verbs
have a meaning
• The same word may have several different meanings.
take on a meaning
(= begin to have a new meaning )
• The word ‘chaos’ has taken on a special scientific meaning.
understand the meaning
• The pictures help the children understand the meanings of the words.
know the meaning
• Do you know the meaning of the word ‘paraphrase’?
grasp the meaning
(= begin to understand the meaning )
• She suddenly grasped the meaning of his frantic gestures.
carry meaning
( also bear a meaning formal ) (= have a meaning )
• In conversation, even a pause may carry meaning.
convey meaning
(= express a meaning )
• the use of hand signals to convey meaning
adjectives
precise/specific/exact
• The term ‘stress’ has a precise meaning to an engineer.
a hidden meaning
• She felt there was a hidden meaning behind his words.
a double meaning
(= two meanings at the same time )
• Everything he said had a double meaning.
the literal meaning
• The literal meaning of ‘telephone’ is ‘far-away sound’.
the 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 )
• The expression has a metaphorical meaning.
sb’s/sth’s true meaning
• Children understand the true meaning of these words.
a symbolic meaning
(= representing an idea )
• Colours often have symbolic meanings; for example, black signifies grief in Western cultures.
transnet.ir
4
general::
noun what sth means ADJ. clear, exact, precise The context makes the meaning clear. What is the exact meaning of this phrase? | correct, true | original | double, hidden There's often a double meaning in jokes and riddles. I'm sure there's no hidden meaning in what he says. | figurative, metaphorical, symbolic | literal VERB + MEANING get, grasp, understand I can't grasp the meaning of this quotation. | decipher, interpret, work out Historians are trying to decipher the meaning of the documents. | assign, attribute She assigns a meaning to his words they just didn't have. | bear, carry, have Some of the symbols carry meaning and some just represent sounds. a word that has more than one meaning | take on The word ‘gay’ took on its modern meaning in the 1960s. | communicate, convey, express PREP. in a/the ~ ambiguity in the meaning of a phrase | with a/the ~ I am using the word with its original meaning. | ~ behind the meaning behind an event PHRASES a nuance/shade of meaning It is difficult for a non-Italian to grasp all the nuances of meaning. purpose/importance ADJ. deep, real, true She's searching for the deeper meaning of life. | spiritual He found spiritual meaning through religion. VERB + MEANING have Her work no longer had any meaning for her. | find | lose After his death, she felt life had lost all meaning. | give sth Falling in love gave meaning to his life. PREP. without ~ Young people can feel that life is without meaning.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary