Tra từ meaning - Từ điển Oxford Learners Wordfinder Dictionary

1 having meaning
2 different kinds of meaning
see also UNDERSTAND, SAY, LANGUAGE, WORD

1 having meaning
- the relationship between a word, phrase, sentence, etc and the thing or idea it represents: meaning (noun U/C)
What is the difference in meaning between 'sour' and 'bitter'? ◎ I couldn't understand the meaning of the poem. ◎ to have a different meaning
- a meaning or possible meaning of a word, phrase, sentence, etc: sense
The word 'funny' has two senses: strange and amusing. ◎ I think you're using that word in a rather unusual sense.
- the meaning or intention of sth: significance
What is the significance of the rings on the Olympic flag?
- the general meaning of sth (without all the details): the gist
Although I don't speak German, I got the gist of what they were saying.
- a shape or mark, or a movement of the body which has a particular meaning: sign
a dollar sign ◎ to give sb a sign to do sth
- a picture, object, etc which represents an idea: symbol
Mathematics uses a lot of symbols which I don't understand. ◎ The dove is a symbol of peace.
- a movement of the body which has a particular meaning: gesture
She made a gesture of annoyance.
※ more on signs, symbols, gestures, etc SIGN
- to have a meaning: mean* sth
'What does 'forecast' mean?' 'It means saying what will probably happen in the future.'
- to have a meaning which sb can understand: make* sense
This sentence doesn't make sense to me.
- (used about a look, expression, etc) trying to express a certain feeling or idea: meaningful (adverb meaningfully), significant
I tried to say something meaningful, but I could only think of clichÃ©s. ◎ to glance meaningfully at somebody
※ similar and different meanings
- a word which has the same meaning as another word, or a very similar meaning: synonym; adjective: synonymous (with sth)
'Wide' and 'broad' are synonyms. ◎ I'm trying to find a word which is synonymous with 'slow'.
- a word or expression which can be used in the same way as another one is an equivalent (of sth); adjective: equivalent (to sth)
What's the Spanish equivalent of 'a week on Tuesday'?
- a word which has a completely different meaning from another word: opposite
The opposite of 'easy' is 'difficult'.
※ having no meaning
- something which has no (clear) meaning: nonsense (noun U), rubbish (noun U)
What nonsense! ◎ That's a load of rubbish!
- a form of talk which has no meaning: gibberish (noun U)

2 different kinds of meaning
- if the meaning of sth is easy to understand, it is clear; opposite: unclear
- if sth has two or more possible meanings, it is ambiguous (adverb ambiguously)
I'm not sure if she liked it or not - her comments were rather ambiguous.
- something which could be understood in different ways, or the quality of having two or more different meanings: ambiguity (noun C/U)
Can you see the ambiguity in the sentence 'I feel like a well-cooked steak'?
- the most basic meaning of a word or expression: literal meaning
The literal meaning of 'cool' is 'fairly cold' but it is also used to mean 'unfriendly'.
- an imaginative meaning of a word or expression: figurative meaning
'We died laughing' is a figurative use of the verb 'die'.
- a way of describing sth by comparing it to sth else which has similar qualities: metaphor; adjective: metaphorical (adverb metaphorically)
Saying that a person 'is a ray of sunshine' is a metaphor meaning that they are bright and happy.
- a way of expressing yourself by saying the opposite of what you really mean: irony (noun U); adjectives: ironic, ironical
'That's just great,' he said, with heavy irony.
- irony which is used to criticize sb or to be unkind to them: sarcasm (noun U); adjective: sarcastic
a sarcastic remark
- the words that come before or after a word, sentence, etc and that help you to understand its meaning; the situation in which a word is used: context (noun C/U)
If you don't know the meaning of a word, try to guess it from the context. ◎ The Prime Minister said that his words had been taken out of context and deliberately misunderstood.