average

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The result of adding several amounts and dividing by how many there are.

   The average of 4, 5, and 6 is 5.

2. 2
   adj

   Calculated by finding the average of several amounts.

   The average income in the region is below the national level.

3. 3
   adj

   Ordinary; around the middle, not especially good or bad.

   It was a novel of average quality, nothing special.

4. 4
   verb

   To calculate the average of a set of numbers.

   I averaged all the scores to find the class result.

5. 5
   verb

   To reach a particular amount as an average over time.

   I average about forty hours of work a week.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Average entered English in the Middle English period from Arabic ʿawār, meaning “damage to goods.” It originally denoted a customs duty associated with merchandise before developing its later senses.

Etymology tree Arabic عَوَار (ʕawār) Arabic ـِيّ (-iyy) Proto-Afroasiatic *-t Proto-Semitic *-at- Arabic ـَة (-a) Arabic ـِيَّة (-iyya) Arabic عَوَارِيَّة (ʕawāriyya)bor.? Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ- Proto-Italic *haβēō Latin habeō Old Italian avére Old Italian -ìa ? Old Italian avariabor. Old French avarie Middle French avarie Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātus Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icus Latin -āticus Latin -āticum Old French -agebor. Middle English -age Eng…

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External links

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