📖 M — The English dictionary · page 21

medley — In Jewish tradition, meaning 1: A mixture of different things, often put together without order.↗ Example: All the other commentaries mentioned above, together with all quotations of other expounders of the same book, contain nothing but a medley of arbitrary, mystical explanations and sophistical distortions of scriptural verses, astrological notions, oriental (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877)↗

medusa — Everyday, meaning 1: (a name, Greek myth) Medusa was a monster, a Gorgon, with snakes for hair; anyone who looked at her face was turned to stone.↗ The hero Perseus cut off her head.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (science) A medusa is the swimming, umbrella-shaped stage of a jellyfish or similar sea creature.↗ Example: Medusa had snakes instead of hair.↗ · Anyone who looked at Medusa turned to stone.↗ · Perseus used a mirror-shield so he would not look straight at Medusa.↗ · In the myth, the winged horse Pegasus sprang from Medusa.↗ · A jellyfish in its medusa stage swims by pulsing its bell.↗ · The museum has an old coin with Medusa's face.↗ · Medusae drift with the ocean currents.↗ · Some later stories say Medusa was once a beautiful woman who was cursed.↗ · Seeing herself thus transformed into so repulsive an object, Medusa fled from her home, never to return.↗

meek — Everyday, meaning 1: Quiet, gentle and patient; not easily angry and not wanting to argue.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (often disapproving) Too quiet and ready to do what others say: «meek and timid».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (Bible) Jesus said «Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth»; Christians see meekness as gentle strength, not weakness.↗ Example: «Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.»↗ · The meek little mouse squeaked a thank you.↗ · He meekly said sorry and sat down.↗ · She seemed meek, but she stood up to the bully.↗ · Moses was a very meek man, the Bible says.↗ · Don't be so meek; tell the teacher your idea!↗ · Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men that were upon the face of the earth. — (Torah NUM.12.3, JPS 1917)↗ · He said to her, 'My daughter, come and we ivill many thee to Abraham My beloved."↗ She said to him, 'Xo. not until the meek one com- es and takes meekness.'↗ God then consulted the Sefer Yetzirah, which said, "Yes'.↗ (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914))↗

meekly — Everyday, meaning 1: In a quiet, gentle way, without arguing or fighting back.↗ Example: «Yes, Miss,» he said meekly.↗ · The puppy sat meekly when told off.↗ · Alice answered meekly, «I—I hardly know, sir.»↗ · She meekly handed over her sweets.↗ · Toad meekly followed Badger into the room.↗ · He meekly agreed to tidy his room.↗

meekness — Everyday, meaning 1: Meekness is quiet, gentle behaviour; a person with meekness is not proud, loud or angry.↗ Example: The meekness of the lamb calmed the children.↗ · He showed meekness even when he was teased.↗ · With meekness the beast let the boy come near.↗ · He said to her, 'My daughter, come and we ivill many thee to Abraham My beloved."↗ She said to him, 'Xo. not until the meek one com- es and takes meekness.'↗ God then consulted the Sefer Yetzirah, which said, "Yes'.↗ (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914))↗ · And in thy majesty prosper, ride on, in behalf of truth and meekness and righteousness; and let thy right hand teach thee tremendous things.↗ (Writings PSA.45.5, JPS 1917)↗

meerkat — Everyday, meaning 1: A meerkat is a small, furry animal of the mongoose family that lives in groups in the deserts and dry grasslands of southern Africa.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Meerkats are famous for standing up on their back legs to watch for danger.↗ Example: The meerkat stood on its back legs to look around.↗ · One meerkat keeps watch while the others look for food.↗ · Meerkats live in groups called mobs or gangs.↗ · Meerkats can eat scorpions without getting hurt by the sting.↗ · The meerkats dashed into their burrow when an eagle flew over.↗ · Meerkats live in the Kalahari Desert.↗ · The baby meerkats came out to play in the sun.↗

meet — Everyday, meaning 1: To meet is to come together with someone at the same place.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: To meet someone is also to see them and get to know them for the first time.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: Lines, roads or rivers meet where they join.↗ Everyday, meaning 4: To meet a need or a goal is to reach it.↗ Everyday, meaning 5: A meet is a sports event, like a swim meet.↗ Example: They meet at the park at 3 o'clock.↗ · Two trains start 300 km apart and meet.↗ · The club meets 4 times a month.↗ · How many times does it meet in a year?↗ · Nice to meet you, I'm Maya.↗ · The two sides of a triangle meet at a corner.↗ · Our class met its goal of reading 500 books.↗ · Jack won two ribbons at the swim meet.↗ · Meet here beneath this ash-tree's roots.↗ · And they said: 'The God of the Hebrews hath met with us.↗ (Torah EXO.5.3, JPS 1917)↗ · And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.↗ (Torah GEN.32.1, JPS 1917)↗ · And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh; (Torah EXO.5.20, JPS 1917)↗ · And Absalom chanced to meet the servants of David.↗ (Prophets 2SA.18.9, JPS 1917)↗ · And he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed.↗ (Writings 1CH.19.5, JPS 1917)↗ · Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.↗ (Writings PSA.85.11, JPS 1917)↗

meeteth — Early Modern English, meaning 1: «meeteth» means «meets», a form of «meet».↗ e.g. To meet is to come together with someone at the same place.↗ Example: The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meeteth him, he shall put him to death.↗ (Torah NUM.35.19, JPS 1917) · And he commanded the foremost, saying: 'When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying: Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?↗ (Torah GEN.32.17, JPS 1917) · or in enmity smote him with his hand, that he died; he that smote him shall surely be put to death: he is a murderer; the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meeteth him.↗ (Torah NUM.35.21, JPS 1917)

meeting — Everyday, meaning 1: A meeting is when people come together to talk about something, plan or decide.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Meeting is the -ing form of meet: coming together with someone.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: A meeting is also the moment people meet: «our first meeting».↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (formal) A sports event: «an athletics meeting» (UK).↗ Example: The teachers have a meeting after school.↗ · Mum is in a meeting and can't talk.↗ · I'm meeting my friend at the park.↗ · If we get separated, the meeting point is the gate.↗ · Their first meeting was at the library.↗ · The school council meeting is on Fridays.↗ · Oh, what a happy meeting it was!↗ · And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting.↗ (Torah NUM.16.43, JPS 1917)↗ · And he put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil; (Torah EXO.40.26, JPS 1917)↗ · and assemble thou all the congregation at the door of the tent of meeting.'↗ (Torah LEV.8.3, JPS 1917)↗ · Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tent of meeting.↗ (Writings 1CH.9.21, JPS 1917)↗ · Thine adversaries have roared in the midst of Thy meeting-place; they have set up their own signs for signs.↗ (Writings PSA.74.4, JPS 1917)↗ · They said in their heart: 'Let us make havoc of them altogether'; they have burned up all the meeting-places of God in the land.↗ (Writings PSA.74.8, JPS 1917)↗

meg — Everyday, meaning 1: (a name) Meg is a girl's name, short for Margaret or Megan, like Meg in «Little Women».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (informal, computers) Short for megabyte: «a 5-meg file».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (UK, football slang) To kick the ball between an opponent's legs; short for «nutmeg».↗ Example: Meg and Mog is a book about a witch and her cat.↗ · My cousin Meg is learning to swim.↗ · That photo is only two megs, so it will send quickly.↗ · (slang, UK) He megged the defender and scored!↗ · (slang) «Megs!» shouted everyone in the playground.↗ · Meg is the oldest sister in «Little Women».↗ · The game download was 300 megs.↗ · A meg is about a million bytes.↗ · We need not for that forget Poultry Meg, who is sitting in her capital hen-house, in our own time.↗

megalosaurus — Everyday, meaning 1: Megalosaurus was a large meat-eating dinosaur that lived in what is now England about 166 million years ago.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: It was the first dinosaur ever given a scientific name, in 1824.↗ Example: Megalosaurus walked on two legs.↗ · Megalosaurus was the first dinosaur to be named.↗ · Its bones were found near Oxford.↗ · Megalosaurus means «great lizard».↗ · Charles Dickens mentioned a Megalosaurus in one of his books.↗ · Megalosaurus had sharp, curved teeth.↗

megaphone — Everyday, meaning 1: A cone-shaped device you speak into to make your voice louder, so a crowd can hear you; modern ones use batteries and are electric.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (figurative) Something that helps a person spread their message widely.↗ Example: The teacher used a megaphone at sports day.↗ · The lifeguard shouted through a megaphone to the swimmers.↗ · We made a megaphone from rolled-up card.↗ · The protesters had a megaphone and a big banner.↗ · The megaphone makes your voice louder in one direction.↗ · During the fire drill, the head teacher used a megaphone.↗ · Don't point a megaphone at anyone's ear.↗ · Social media can be a megaphone for anyone's opinion.↗

mei — Everyday, meaning 1: (Mandarin, pinyin) «Méi» means «not» or «don't have»: «méiyǒu» is «there isn't» or «I haven't got».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (Mandarin, pinyin) «Měi» means «beautiful» and also «every»: «měitiān» is «every day».↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (Mandarin, pinyin) «Měiguó» means «America», the USA, literally «beautiful country».↗ Everyday, meaning 4: (a name) Mei is a girl's name, used in China and Japan.↗ To an English ear it sounds like «may».↗ Example: In Mandarin, «méi guānxi» means «never mind».↗ · «Wǒ méiyǒu gēge» means «I haven't got an older brother».↗ · «Měitiān» means «every day».↗ · «Měiguó» is the Mandarin name for America.↗ · My friend Mei is learning the violin.↗ · Pinyin «mei» sounds like the English name «May».↗ · «Méiyǒu!» the shopkeeper said — there were none left.↗

melancholy — Everyday, meaning 1: A deep, quiet sadness that lasts a while.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (adjective) Sad, or making you feel sad, as in «a melancholy song».↗ Example: The Mock Turtle sang in a melancholy voice.↗ · A melancholy tune played on the radio.↗ · Rain on the window gave her a feeling of melancholy.↗ · He was in a melancholy mood after his friend moved away.↗ · The empty house looked melancholy in the fog.↗ · Autumn can make some people melancholy.↗ · Not long after, the king of the country suffered from the deepest melancholy.↗

melanin — Everyday, meaning 1: Melanin is the natural dark substance in skin, hair and eyes that gives them their colour.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Melanin helps protect skin from the sun's harmful rays.↗ Example: Melanin gives your skin its colour.↗ · Freckles are spots with more melanin.↗ · Skin makes more melanin in the sun, so you tan.↗ · Even with lots of melanin, you still need sun cream.↗ · People with albinism have very little melanin.↗ · Melanin also colours your hair and eyes.↗

melatonin — Everyday, meaning 1: A natural chemical (a hormone) your body makes when it gets dark, which helps you feel sleepy.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: The same substance made in tablets or gummies, sometimes given by a doctor to help people sleep.↗ Example: Your body makes melatonin when the room gets dark.↗ · Bright screens at bedtime can lower your melatonin.↗ · Melatonin helps you feel sleepy at night.↗ · The doctor said my brother could take a small dose of melatonin.↗ · Jet lag happens partly because your melatonin is on the wrong time.↗ · Animals make melatonin too, which helps them know the seasons.↗

mellow — Everyday, meaning 1: Mellow means soft, warm and rich, for light, colour or sound.↗ Everyday, meaning 2: Mellow means calm, relaxed and gentle in mood; a person can become mellow with age.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (verb) To mellow is to become softer, warmer or calmer.↗ Example: The mellow light of the sunset fell on the hill.↗ · The music sounded warm and mellow.↗ · With age, the old king grew mellow and kind.↗

mellowed — Everyday, meaning 1: Became softer, calmer and kinder with age or time: «Grandad has mellowed.».↗ Everyday, meaning 2: (of colours, sounds, light) Became soft, warm and rich, not harsh.↗ Everyday, meaning 3: (of fruit, wine, cheese) Became ripe, sweet and smooth.↗ Example: Grandad was strict, but he has mellowed with age.↗ · The old brick wall had mellowed to a warm red.↗ · The apples mellowed in the autumn sun.↗ · The evening light mellowed into gold.↗ · After a cup of tea, the cross teacher mellowed.↗ · The cheese mellowed in the cellar for a year.↗ · Among the broad smooth green leaves the fruit hung like golden balls, and as they ripened they mellowed to a deep orange.↗

melodious — Everyday, meaning 1: Melodious means having a pleasant tune, sweet and pleasing to hear.↗ Example: The blackbird's melodious song woke me.↗ · She has a melodious voice.↗ · The harp played a melodious tune.↗ · The stream made a melodious sound over the stones.↗ · The nightingale is famous for its melodious singing.↗ · The choir sang melodiously in the old church.↗ · Here, under the walnut-trees, by the deep blue lake, sat Byron, and wrote his melodious verses about the prisoner confined in the gloomy castle of Chillon.↗