What Does It Mean?
When we come across a word or phrase that we don't understand, we often ask the question, "What does it mean?" This is a common question that people ask in order to gain clarity and understanding. In this article, we will explore three different ways to express the question "What does it mean?" in English.
1. What's the meaning?
One way to ask "What does it mean?" is to say "What's the meaning?" This is a straightforward and commonly used expression. For example, if someone uses a word that you don't understand, you could ask them "What's the meaning of that word?" or "What does that word mean?" This is a polite and respectful way to ask for clarification.
2. What do you mean?
Another way to ask "What does it mean?" is to say "What do you mean?" This is a more direct way of asking for clarification. For example, if someone says something that you don't understand, you could ask them "What do you mean by that?" or "Could you explain what you mean?" This is a good way to get more information and to make sure that you understand what someone is trying to say.
3. What's the definition?
A third way to ask "What does it mean?" is to say "What's the definition?" This is a more formal way of asking for clarification. For example, if you are reading a book and come across a word that you don't know, you could look it up in a dictionary and ask "What's the definition of this word?" or "What does this word mean?" This is a good way to learn new vocabulary and to improve your understanding of the English language.
Conclusion
Asking "What does it mean?" is an important part of learning and understanding new words and phrases. Whether you use the expression "What's the meaning?", "What do you mean?", or "What's the definition?", it's important to ask for clarification when you don't understand something. By doing so, you can improve your communication skills and expand your knowledge of the English language.