Pronunciation: [mˈiːnta͡ɪm] (IPA) 
Meantime is a word spelled as /ˈmiːn.taɪm/. The IPA phonetic transcription of the word shows that it is pronounced as "meen-tahym". The word is a noun and refers to the intervening time between two things or events. It is often used to express a temporary state, allowing for a pause before the next action or event. Correct spelling of "meantime" is important for clear communication in written English.
Meantime, also commonly spelled as "mean time," is a noun used to describe the intervening period or the period of time in between two events. It refers to the time that elapses between two specified points or the time during which something else is happening. It can also imply a temporary situation or a pause in an action.
In general usage, meantime is often used to denote a temporary solution, a placeholder, or a stop-gap measure until something else occurs or a more permanent alternative is implemented. For instance, "In the meantime, you can use this old laptop until we purchase a new one."
The term meantime can also imply a contrasting situation or event that takes place simultaneously or concurrent with another event. It is often used to describe two things happening simultaneously. For example, "She was studying for her exams, and in the meantime, her friend was doing laundry."
Meantime can also be used in more formal or technical contexts, such as in project management or scheduling, to refer to the time between the start and completion of a task or milestone. It represents the duration for which work is being carried out or the period during which other activities are happening.
Overall, meantime refers to the time interval during which other actions, events, or circumstances take place, either in parallel, temporarily, or as an intermediary before a subsequent event occurs.
In the intervening time; for the present time.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "meantime" originated in Middle English as "meanwhile". Its etymology can be traced back to the combination of the Middle English words "mean" and "while".
The term "mean" comes from the Old English word "gemǣne", meaning "common" or "shared". It later evolved into "mēne" in Middle English, signifying "middle" or "intermediate".
The word "while" has Old English roots as well, derived from the Old English word "hwīl", meaning "a period of time" or "a while".
Therefore, the word "meantime" essentially signifies the period of time during which something is happening in the interim or, in the meantime.
