Meanings is the plural of meaning, referring to the ideas or interpretations conveyed by words, phrases, or signs. It denotes what a symbol, statement, or utterance conveys beyond its literal form. In linguistic analysis, meanings can be lexical, thematic, or contextual, depending on how language users interpret and map signs to concepts.
US & AU accents are Premium
Unlock all accent variations
"The meanings of the poem shift as the reader interprets the imagery."
"Different cultures assign varied meanings to gestures and symbols."
"In semantics, meanings are analyzed to understand word relationships and context."
"We discussed multiple meanings of the phrase to avoid misinterpretation."
Meanings originates from Old English gemænan (to mean, intend) via the noun form mænan meaning intention or purpose, later evolving into meanung ( Middle English meanynge) referring to sense or significance. By the 15th century, meaning expanded to denote semantic content in linguistics. The root is Proto-Germanic *mainjaną, linked to the concept of thinking, purpose, or intention. Over centuries, meanings collected nuanced senses: lexical meanings (dictionary sense), thematic meanings (underlying topics or themes), and pragmatic meanings (speaker intent and discourse function). The word traversed from indicating intent to representing semantic content in statements, signs, and symbols. In modern usage, meanings encompasses both the internal sense held by a word and the external interpretive content in discourse and semiotics. First known written attestations appear in Middle English texts discussing sense and signification, with earlier Germanic roots attested in comparative philology literature describing how meaning develops with language change.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "meanings" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "meanings" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "meanings" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "meanings"
-ngs sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce as /ˈmiː.nɪŋz/. Stress on the first syllable. The first vowel is a long /iː/ as in 'meet', followed by a short /ɪ/ in the second syllable, and a voiced /ŋz/ cluster at the end. Mouth positions: keep a high front tongue for /iː/, then relax to a lax /ɪ/ with the tongue dipping slightly; end with the velar nasal /ŋ/ and a voiced alveolar /z/ release. For audio reference, listen to native speakers saying 'meanings' in semantically-rich sentences.
Two common issues: (1) Misplacing the stress, saying /ˈmiːnɪŋ/ without the final /z/ or dropping the -s; ensure final /z/ is voiced and audible. (2) Slurring /iː/ into /ɪ/ or making /ŋ/ too fronted. Keep the /iː/ long, then transition to a crisp /ŋ/ before a voiced /z/. Practice with minimal pairs like 'mean' vs 'means' to feel the /z/ release after /ŋ/. Use a short pause before the final /z/ to avoid devoicing.
US/UK/AU share the same primary structure but differ in vowel quality and rhotics. In rhotic US, /ˈmiː.nɪŋz/ has r-coloration influence only in connected speech, not phonemic here; UK and AU typically maintain non-rhoticity in careful speech but still produce /z/ clearly. The vowel in /iː/ remains long; some accents may have reduced voicing or subtle diphthongs on the first vowel. In fast speech, you might hear a subtle schwa-like second syllable in rapid UK/AU speech, yet most careful speech preserves /ɪ/. Listen for a crisp, voiced /z/ at the end across all accents.
The difficulty often lies in transitioning from the /n/ to the /ɪ/ vowel and then into the /ŋ/ + /z/ cluster smoothly, ensuring the /ŋ/ remains velar and not dentalized, and that the final /z/ is voiced and not devoiced. Some learners overarticulate the /ŋ/ or insert an extra vowel between /ŋ/ and /z/. A reliable fix is to practice the sequence /nɪŋz/ with deliberate, tiny jaw movement and a light, immediate /z/ release, using a short, steady exhale.
A unique point is the final /z/ after /ŋ/. Some learners assume a plural -s is /s/ rather than /z/ depending on the preceding sound. Here, after /ŋ/ the natural, voiced /z/ is produced with a light breath, not a hard hiss. Focus on blending /ŋ/ and /z/ without adding an intervening vowel, and ensure the final consonant carries voicing from the vocal folds, producing a clear, audible /z/.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "meanings"!
No related words found
See how this word is used in our articles
