means */*/*/

UK [miːnz] / US [mɪnz] noun
Word forms "means":
singular means plural means

1) [countable] a method for doing or achieving something

Information is not easily obtained by any other means.

an effective means for finding qualified job applicants

means of:

What means of transport is she using?

no means of doing something:

We had no means of warning them.

the means by which:

Testing is still the usual means by which students' progress is measured.

•

Collocations:
Adjectives frequently used with means
▪  effective, efficient, legitimate, peaceful, practicable, reliable, useful Verbs frequently used with means as the object ▪  develop, devise, find, furnish, offer, provide, use

2) [plural] formal the amount of money or the property, income etc that someone has

have the means (to do something):

Small businesses don't have the means to develop a sophisticated Internet presence.

beyond/within your means (= too expensive or not too expensive for you):

Many medical charges are beyond the means of poorer families.

according to someone's means:

You are invited to contribute according to your means.

a man/woman of means (= with a lot of money):

He had the well-dressed appearance of a man of means.

•

- by all means

- by no means

- a means to an end

- means of production

See:

fair I