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REFERENCE

average

n. · adj. · v.
US //ˈævɝɪdʒ// UK //ˈævɹɪdʒ// av·er·age
  1. 1 mathematical mean (n.)
    A2 Elementary Math

    the result you get by adding several amounts together and dividing by the number of amounts.

    the arithmetic mean, calculated by dividing the sum of a set of values by the number of items in that set.

    Example

    The average of three, seven, and eight is six.

    Example

    To determine the final grade, the professor calculated the weighted average of the midterm exam and the final project.

    Usage

    Often used with the preposition 'of'.
  2. 2 the usual amount (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the normal or typical amount for a group of people or things.

    the typical or common level, degree, or amount within a specific population or context.

    Example

    The rainfall this month was well above the average for July.

    Example

    The survey indicates that the average for household spending has risen significantly due to increased energy costs.
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  1. 3 sports performance (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    a number that shows how well a player usually performs.

    a ratio expressing a player's performance, such as a batting average in baseball or cricket.

    Example

    The player finished the season with a very high batting average.

    Example

    Despite a slow start to the tournament, the striker managed to maintain a respectable scoring average over the final ten matches.
  2. 4 typical or ordinary (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    normal and like most others; not special or unusual.

    representing the most common or typical instance of a group; lacking distinctive or excellent qualities.

    Example

    The average person spends several hours a day on their phone.

    Example

    The film was about an average family living in a quiet suburb, dealing with everyday problems.
  3. 5 mediocre (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal

    not very good, but not terrible; just okay.

    of medium or low quality; unremarkable or mediocre in performance or character.

    Example

    The food at the new restaurant was only average, so we won't go back.

    Example

    While the technical aspects of the performance were sound, the emotional delivery was strictly average and failed to move the audience.
  4. 6 to result in a mean (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to have a particular amount as an average over a period of time.

    to amount to or result in a mean value over a specific duration or across a population.

    Example

    The tickets average about twenty dollars each if you buy them in a group.

    Example

    The company's profits average five million dollars per year, though this fluctuates depending on seasonal demand.
    • amount to
  5. 7 maritime loss (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Formal Law

    money paid to cover damage to goods being moved by ship.

    the proportional distribution of a financial loss caused by damage to a ship or its cargo among all parties interested in the voyage.

    Example

    The shipping company had to calculate the general average after the storm damaged the cargo.

    Example

    Under maritime law, the principle of general average requires all stakeholders to share the costs of any sacrifice made to save the vessel from imminent peril.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a highly specialized legal and insurance term; learners will rarely encounter it outside of maritime law or shipping contracts.
Etymology 1

Etymology tree Arabic عَوَار (ʕawār) Arabic ـِيّ (-iyy) Proto-Afroasiatic *-t Proto-Semitic *-at- Arabic ـَة (-a) Arabic ـِيَّة (-iyya) Arabic عَوَارِيَّة (ʕawāriyya)? Proto-Indo-European *gʰeh₁bʰ- Proto-Italic *haβēō Latin habeō Old Italian avere? 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 *-kos Proto-Italic *-kos Latin -cus Latin -icus Latin -āticus Latin -āticum Old French -agebor. Middle English -age English -age English average Not entirely certain. The oldest meaning in English is “customs duty”. Borrowed from Middle French avarie (“damage to ship or cargo”), from Old French avarie, from Old Italian avaria where it is first attested in the 12th century in the context of Mediterranean trade. From there most sources trace it to Arabic عَوَارِيَّة (ʕawāriyya, “damaged goods”), from عَوَار (ʕawār, “fault, blemish, defect, flaw”), from عَوِرَ (ʕawira, “to lose an eye”), but the OED gives it a Romance derivation from Italian avere (“property, goods”) or the like. The English suffix -age was added in analogy to words like damage.

Etymology 2

From Middle English average, from Medieval Latin averagium, from aver (“horse or other beast of burden, service required from the same”) from Old English eafor (“obligation to carry goods and convey messages for one's lord”) from aferian (“to remove, take away”); + -age.

Idioms5 entries

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