average

Universal Words adjective, noun, verb adjective 1 [onlybeforenoun] calculated by adding several amounts together, finding a total, and dividing the total by the number of amounts: an average rate / cost / price * Average earnings are around ｣20000 per annum. * at an average speed of 100 miles per hour 2 typical or normal: 40 hours is a fairly average working week for most people. * children of above / below average intelligence * ｣20 for dinner is about average. 3 ordinary; not special: I was just an average sort of student. averagely adverb (rare): He was attractive and averagely intelligent. noun [C,U] 1 the result of adding several amounts together, finding a total, and dividing the total by the number of amounts: The average of 4, 5 and 9 is 6. * Parents spend an average of $220 a year on toys for their children. * If I get an A on this essay, that will bring my average (= average mark / grade) up to a B+. seealsoGRADEPOINTAVERAGE 2 a level which is usual: Temperatures are above / below average for the time of year. * 400 people a year die of this disease on average. * Class sizes in the school are below the national average. IDIOMS see LAW verb 1 [VN] [nopassive] to be equal to a particular amount as an average: Economic growth is expected to average 2% next year. * Drivers in London can expect to average about 12 miles per hour (= to have that as their average speed). 2 to calculate the average of sth: [VN] Earnings are averaged over the whole period. [also V] PHRASALVERBS average out (at sth) to result in an average amount over a period of time or when several things are considered: The cost should average out at about ｣6 per person. * Sometimes I pay, sometimes he pays-it seems to average out (= result in us paying the same amount). average sth<->out (at sth) to calculate the average of sth