meaning: Meaning and Definition of

mean•ing

Pronunciation: (mē'ning), [key]
— n.
  1. what is intended to be, or actually is, expressed or indicated; signification; import: the three meanings of a word.
  2. the end, purpose, or significance of something: What is the meaning of life? What is the meaning of this intrusion?
    1. the nonlinguistic cultural correlate, reference, or denotation of a linguistic form; expression.
    2. linguistic content (opposed to expression).
—adj.
  1. intentioned (usually used in combination): She's a well-meaning person.
  2. full of significance; expressive: a meaning look.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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