means
/miːnz/noun
उच्चारण मीन्ज़
साधन, तरीक़ा, ज़रिया
Core word
- 1
[C] ~ (of sth/of doing sth)
an action, an object or a system by which a result is achieved; a way of achieving or doing something
साधन, तरीक़ा, ज़रिया
- Education is the best means of escaping poverty.
- For many villagers, the bicycle is the only means of transport.
- They tried every means to save the business.
+ 3 more examples
- Social media is a powerful means of reaching young voters.
- The railway is the cheapest means of travelling long distances.
- He used every means possible to get the work done on time.
- 2
[plural]
the money that a person has
धन, आय, साधन (पैसा)
- Radhika's family did not have the means to send her abroad.
- He lives within his means and never borrows.
- A student of limited means may apply for a scholarship.
+ 2 more examples
- He is a man of means and donates generously.
- The family lacked the means to pay for private tuition.
§Structures (grammar patterns) 4
a means of + noun / -ing
Means is a noun meaning a method. It looks plural but is used with a singular verb when it refers to one method: a means of transport.
Means का अर्थ तरीका है। यह plural जैसा दिखता है पर जब एक ही तरीके की बात हो तो singular verb आती है: a means of transport।
- Education is a means of improving lives.
- The bicycle is a cheap means of travel.
means (plural): the means to do sth / by all means
In the plural sense, means is the money or resources a person has; the means to do something is the ability to afford it.
Plural अर्थ में means का अर्थ धन या संसाधन है; 'the means to do something' का अर्थ उसे करने की आर्थिक क्षमता है।
- She had the means to study abroad.
- A person of means can afford the fee.
by means of + noun / by no means
By means of explains the method used; by no means is a strong negative, meaning not at all.
'By means of' प्रयुक्त तरीका बताता है; 'by no means' कठोर नकार है, जिसका अर्थ बिल्कुल नहीं है।
- They crossed the river by means of a rope bridge.
- The task is by no means easy.
means as the verb mean (he / she / it means)
The verb mean has the third-person singular form means, so the same spelling serves two purposes: He means what he says.
Verb 'mean' का third-person singular रूप 'means' है, इसलिए एक ही spelling दो काम करती है: He means what he says।
- This sign means danger.
- What does this idiom mean?
+Collocations 4
adjective + means
effectivepeacefulillegalfinancialprivate
- Peaceful means are better than violence.
means + of
means of transportmeans of livelihoodmeans of communicationmeans of escape
- Farming is their main means of livelihood.
man / woman of means
a man of meansa woman of meansmeans to livelive beyond one's means
- He lives beyond his means.
by + means
by all meansby no meansby fair meansby foul means
- You may use my phone, by all means.
“More examples 5
- Radio is still an important means of communication in remote villages.
दूरदराज़ के गाँवों में रेडियो अब भी संचार का महत्त्वपूर्ण साधन है।
- They reached the top of the cliff by means of a ladder.
वे सीढ़ी की सहायता से चट्टान की चोटी पर पहुँचे।
- She is a woman of modest means but great courage.
वह सीमित साधनों वाली पर बहुत साहसी महिला है।
- Radhika's father believes that honest hard work is the only means to success.
राधिका के पिता मानते हैं कि ईमानदार परिश्रम ही सफलता का एकमात्र साधन है।
- This scheme is a means to an end, not the goal itself.
यह योजना साध्य नहीं, साधन मात्र है।
!Common mistakes 1
✗ A means of transports is necessary.
✓ A means of transport is necessary.
After of, the uncountable noun transport takes no plural s.
'Of' के बाद uncountable noun 'transport' में plural s नहीं लगता।
¶Idioms 6
by all means
used to say that you are very happy for somebody to have something or do something
ज़रूर, बेशक
- 'Can I borrow your notes?' 'By all means.'
by no means | not by any means
not at all
बिल्कुल नहीं, किसी भी तरह नहीं
- The exam was by no means easy.
- It is not by any means the best book on the subject.
by means of sth
with the help of something
के द्वारा, की सहायता से
- The heavy stones were lifted by means of a crane.
a means to an end
a thing or action that is not interesting or important in itself but is a way of achieving something else
किसी लक्ष्य तक पहुँचने का साधन मात्र
- For him, the job was just a means to an end.
live beyond/within your means
to spend more than / not more than you earn
हैसियत से ज़्यादा / हैसियत के भीतर ख़र्च करना
- Many people get into debt because they live beyond their means.
the end justifies the means
bad or unfair methods of doing something are acceptable if the result of that action is good
अच्छा लक्ष्य ग़लत तरीक़ों को भी सही ठहरा देता है
- Gandhiji never accepted that the end justifies the means.
§Grammar and usage
In the sense 'a way of doing something', means has the same form in the singular and plural, so 'a means of transport' and 'many means of transport' are both correct.
'तरीक़ा' के अर्थ में means का singular और plural रूप एक जैसा रहता है, इसलिए 'a means of transport' और 'many means of transport' दोनों सही हैं।