n (1)意(含)义(sense in which a statement，action，word，etc is understood)[U，C]：a phrase having(with)various/several/many distinct～s 具有各种/几种/许多不同意义的短语;the～of the signals/noises/one's behaviour/remark这些信号/噪音/某人行为/评论的含义;comprehend the～of the voice理解呼声的涵义;talk about the～of the play谈论那出戏的内涵;a hidden～of the picture图画隐含的意义;a real～of the story 故事真正的含义;What's the～of this?这有什么意义?learn acceptable～s for the symbols of the language了解这种语言符号的实有意义;〖同〗suggestion，implication，indication;〖反〗meaninglessness，absurdity;

(2)目的，重要性(purpose，importance)[U]：My prayer had the real～for me at a very early age.祈祷在我小的时候有过真正的意义。The law lost all real～for poor people.法律对穷人毫无意义。What is the～of life?人生的意义是什么?〖同〗purpose，goal，aim;

→′meaningful adj有目的，有意义的;′meaningfully adv有目的地;′meaning-fulness n意义;′meaningless adj 无意义的

adj 有意义的(showing a certain feeling or giving a certain message)[作attrib]：give a～smile/look/glance/gesture意味深长地一笑/一眼/一瞥/一个手势;

【辨异】meaning、significance、sense、purport均当“意义”解，但是用法不同：meaning字义广，适用于姿态、行为、图画等所表达的意义，尤指以语言所表达者，如：Don't mistake my meaning.(不要误解我的意思。)significance(含义)特别用来指未表达出的暗示、含义，如：a look of deep significance(意味深长的眼神);或指不能立即察觉到的重要性、意义，如：Few people realized the significance of the discovery.(没几个人能认识到这一发现的重要性。)sense(字义)用于字所表达的意义即一字一意;The word is frequently used in this sense.(该字常用于这个意义。)purport(大意)正式用语，指文章、讲话的大意，如：the purport of his letter to the editor(他寄给编辑的信的大意)。