Mean
Measure of central tendency, that is a measure of the center of the data, also called an average.

Meander
Descriptive of a property boundary that follows the course of a river or estuary.

Measure
1. The extent or capacity of something according to a standard.
2. The act of determining extent or capacity of something.
3. The basis for a comparison.

Mechanic's Lien
Lien given by law upon a building or other improvement or upon the land itself, as security for the payment of payment for labor done and materials furnished for improvements. A claim filed against a property, by a subcontractor or supplier, in an effort to guarantee payment because all liens must be paid before closing.

Mechanical
1. Produced or operated by use of machinery or a mechanism.
2. Having moving parts.
3. Automatic, from force of habit.

Mechanical Advantage
Force, multiplied in ability by use of a mechanism, such as a lever, gears, etc.

Mechanical Cleaning
Use of abrasives instead of chemicals to clean surfaces, usually exterior.

Mechanical Drawings
Layout and detail drawing for those items, such as HVAC, plumbing, etc., the utilities known as "mechanicals."

Mechanical Efficiency Curve
Graph detailing the efficiency of differing conditions of machine operations.

Mechanical Equipment
Equipment for HVAC, gas, water, etc, the utilities known as "mechanicals" such as furnaces, piping, heaters, etc.

Mechanical Fingers
Spring-loaded tines, shaped like fingers on a flexible housing rod, used to grab items that are out of reach of a worker. When a button on the rods end is pushed, the fingers move out of the housing and open to grasp the item. Release of the button closes the fingers around the object, holding it firmly.

Mechanical Joint
Pipe joint with a gasket that has a wedge shaped cross section. Compressed against the outside diameter of the pipe by a pair of bolted ring fittings, it partially encapsulates and squeezes the gasket as the bolts are tightened. A fitting is integral with the hub end of the length of pipe with the flange type fitting slipping over the end of the pipe, which joins, to the first.

Mechanical Pencil
Pencil with replaceable lead that is used for doing "drawings".

Mechanical Systems
The wiring, plumbing and heating and cooling systems in a building.

Mechanical Tamper
Soil compactor that vibrates when the engine is activated.

Mechanical Taping Tool
Tool that distributes both drywall joint compound and joint tape, simultaneously.

Mechanical Ventilation
Artificial ventilation, which is activated by an fan or other mechanism to move air.

Mechanism
Device that utilizes moving parts working together to perform a job.

Median
Strip of land that separates the lanes of opposing traffic. Alternately, the midpoint in a range of numbers.

Median Price
House price that falls in the middle of the pricing of the total number of homes for sale in a specific area.

Mediate
To settle a matter by conciliation with use of a neutral third party.

Mediation
A method of resolving disputes, in which a neutral party tries to resolve contract differences.

Medicine Cabinet
Small cabinet, often set into the wall, for toiletries and medicine.

Medium
1. Something intermediate. A middle state or decree. A mean.
2. A means of communication that reaches the general public.
3. Any surrounding substance in which bodies exist or move.
4. A liquid mixed with pigment to give fluency.
5. An intervening thing through which a force acts or an effect is produced.

Medium Curing Cutback
Kerosene thinned asphalt, which stays liquid when temperatures drop.

Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)
Wood scraps and plant fibers compressed together with a binding material, such as glue and pressed out to form a sheet material which is used in construction as wall sheathing, floor underlayment or in any area that is to be covered with a veneer or finish surface.

Meeting of the Minds
An agreement, by all parties, to a contract.

Meld
To blend or merge. To unite.

Melt
To change from a solid to a liquid, usually by heat.

Melt-through
Defective welding operation, which allows the heat to melt through the base metal.

Membrane
A thin, soft, pliable sheet or layer of material.

Mensuration
Measuring, especially as to length, area, and volume.

Mercury
A heavy, silver-white metallic, chemical element, liquid at ordinary temperatures, above -38.9 degrees F. It is often used in measuring devices, such as thermometers. Atomic Symbol Hg. Atomic Number 80. Atomic Weight 200.59.

Mercury Switch
Electrical switch with mercury and electrical contact enclosed in a bulb, which when the bulb is in a certain position, the mercury spans the contact to complete the circuit which allows electrical current to flow.

Merge
1. To join together. To unite. To combine.
2. To lose identity by being absorbed.

Merger
Combination of two or more interests, such as businesses or investments, into one.

Merger of Title
Forming two or more parcels of property under one title.

Merged Credit Report
A credit report that obtains information from the Big Three credit-reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and Trans Union Corp.

Meridian
A longitudinal reference line that traverses the earth in a north-south direction; all meridians circle the earth through the equator and converge at the north and south poles; used by surveyors in describing property under the Government Rectangular Survey Method.

Merlon
The solid part of a parapet (the masonry wall around the edge of a roof) as opposed to the open, evenly spaced square notches, called crenellations, in the wall.