average average /ˈævrɪdʒ/

adjective

1. () (statistics) approximating the statistical norm, average or expected value  ( mean , average )
   (statistics) approximating the statistical norm, average or expected value
    The average income in New England is below that of the nation
   the average income in New England is below that of the nation
    Of average height for his age
   of average height for his age
    The mean annual rainfall
   the mean annual rainfall
   
2. () Lacking special distinction, rank, or status; commonly encountered  ( ordinary , average )
   lacking special distinction, rank, or status; commonly encountered
    Average people
   average people
    The ordinary (or common) man in the street
   the ordinary (or common) man in the street
   
3. () Lacking exceptional quality or ability  ( fair , mediocre , middling , average )
   lacking exceptional quality or ability
    A novel of average merit
   a novel of average merit
    Only a fair performance of the sonata
   only a fair performance of the sonata
    In fair health
   in fair health
    The caliber of the students has gone from mediocre to above average
   the caliber of the students has gone from mediocre to above average
    The performance was middling at best
   the performance was middling at best
   
4. () Around the middle of a scale of evaluation  ( intermediate , average , medium )
   around the middle of a scale of evaluation
    An orange of average size
   an orange of average size
    Intermediate capacity
   intermediate capacity
    Medium bombers
   medium bombers
   
5. (statistics) relating to or constituting the middle value of an ordered set of values (or the average of the middle two in a set with an even number of values)  ( average , median )
   (statistics) relating to or constituting the middle value of an ordered set of values (or the average of the middle two in a set with an even number of values)
    The median value of 17, 20, and 36 is 20
   the median value of 17, 20, and 36 is 20
    The median income for the year was $15,000
   the median income for the year was $15,000
   
6. (statistics) relating to or constituting the most frequent value in a distribution  ( average , modal )
   (statistics) relating to or constituting the most frequent value in a distribution
    The modal age at which American novelists reach their peak is 30
   the modal age at which American novelists reach their peak is 30
   

noun

1. () (statistics) a statistic describing the location of a distribution  ( norm , average )
   (statistics) a statistic describing the location of a distribution
    It set the norm for American homes
   it set the norm for American homes
   
2. An intermediate scale value regarded as normal or usual  ( average )
   an intermediate scale value regarded as normal or usual
    He is about average in height
   he is about average in height
    The snowfall this month is below average
   the snowfall this month is below average
   
3. (sports) the ratio of successful performances to opportunities  ( average )
   (sports) the ratio of successful performances to opportunities
   

verb

1. () Amount to or come to an average, without loss or gain  ( average out , average )
   amount to or come to an average, without loss or gain
    The number of hours I work per work averages out to 40
   The number of hours I work per work averages out to 40
   
2. () Achieve or reach on average  ( average )
   achieve or reach on average
    He averaged a C
   He averaged a C
   
3. () (arithmetic) compute the average of  ( average , average out )
   (arithmetic) compute the average of