As a Noun: 1. The unwillingness to spend much money or to use very much of a particular thing. English = meanness. 2. A person who is very mean and enjoys saving money and hate spending it. English = miser. As a Verb or Adjective: 1. To be unwilling to spend much money or to use very much of a particular thing. English = (be) mean, (be) stingy 2. To be very mean and to hate spending money. English = (be) miserly.