What do you mean by...?

Meaning

Seeking clarification on a specific word or phrase.

Examples

• John: I didn't quite catch that. What do you mean by 'ubiquitous'?
• Alice: It means something that is present, appearing, or found everywhere. <b>What do you mean by</b> using that word in this context?
• John: Oh, I just meant it's very common. <b>What do you mean by</b> 'ubiquitous' being used?
• Alice: It's used to imply a widespread prevalence.