1 [C] a means (of doing sth) a method of doing sth 方法;手段:
Do you have any means of transport (= a car, bicycle, etc)?你有没有任何代步工具?Is there any means of contacting your husband?有没有任何办法可以跟你的丈夫联系?
2 [pl] (formal 正式) all the money that sb has (某人的)所有金钱,财力:
This car is beyond the means of most people.这种汽车大部份人买不起。
by all means used to say that you are happy for sb to have or do sth (表示欣然同意)当然:
‘Can I borrow your newspaper?’ ‘By all means.’“可不可以借你的报纸看看?”“当然可以。”by means of by using 使用;藉着:
We got out of the hotel by means of the fire escape.我们从太平梯逃出酒店。by no means; not by any means (used to emphasize sth) not at all (用于强调)决不,一点也不:
I'm by no means sure that this is the right thing to do.我一点也不能肯定这样做是对的。a means to an end an action or thing that is not important in itself but is a way of achieving sth else 达到目的的方法(重要的是结果而非手段):
I don't enjoy my job, but it's a means to an end.我不喜欢我的工作,但这是达到目的的一种手段。
means/minz; miːnz/n plural means 1 [C] a way of doing something 手段﹔方法﹔工具: +of The window is the only means of escape. 这扇窗是唯一的出路。means of communication/transport Email is the best means of communication. 电子邮件是最好的交流方法。a means of doing sth I had no means of getting home. 我没有办法回家。2 by all means used to agree or give permission [ of course ] 当然可以: ‘Can I bring Alan?’ ‘By all means!’ “我能带艾伦来吗?”“当然可以!”3 by no means/not by any means not at all 绝不﹐一点都不: He was not rich by any means. 他根本不算有钱。4 a means to an end something that you do only to achieve a particular result 达到目的的方法: My job is just a means to an end. 我的工作仅仅是我达到目的的手段而已。5 [plural 复数] the money or income you have 钱﹔财富: have the means to do sth We don’t have the means to pay for private education. 我们无力支付私立教育的费用。A holiday is beyond my means (=I cannot afford it). 我承担不起度假费用。
meansnoun (pluralmeans)a way of doing something; a way of going somewhere: Do you have any means of transport (= a car, a bicycle etc.)?by means of somethingby using something: We crossed the river by means of a small bridge.by no meansnot at all: I am by no means certain that I can come.