mean development

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountabletechnical

   The average level or course of growth or change in a group or system over a period of time.

   Grammar: Often used with 'the' and followed by 'of': the mean development of the children.

   Patterns

   • the mean development of something
   • mean development over time

   The study reported the mean development of language skills in bilingual children.

   Researchers compared the mean development of the two groups across five years.

2. 2nouncountableinformal

   A development that is unkind, spiteful, or intended to hurt someone (informal use of 'mean').

   Grammar: This sense is rare and usually appears in informal writing; 'mean' here is the adjective meaning unkind.

   Patterns

   • a mean development
   • such a mean development

   Cancelling the party at the last minute was a mean development for the kids.

   That was a mean development, and everyone felt upset.

Common combinations

mean development of children

The mean development of children in the program was measured each year.

mean development over time

They tracked the mean development over time using standardized tests.

calculate the mean development

Statisticians calculate the mean development to compare groups.

Synonyms and how they differ

average development

Average development is the everyday term; mean development is more technical and often used in statistics.

typical development

Typical development describes what is usual, not necessarily a calculated average.

Word family

mean noun

The average of a set of numbers.

develop verb

To grow or change over time.

developmental adjective

Relating to growth and change.

Commonly confused: mean development or means development?

Practice

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