me·di·um (m  d- m)n. pl. me·di·a (-d-) or me·di·ums 1. Something, such as an intermediate course of action, that occupies a position or represents a condition midway between extremes. 2. An intervening substance through which something else is transmitted or carried on. 3. An agency by which something is accomplished, conveyed, or transferred: The train was the usual medium of transportation in those days. 4. pl. media Usage Problem a. A means of mass communication, such as newpapers, magazines, radio, or television. b. media (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The group of journalists and others who constitute the communications industry and profession. 5. pl. media Computer Science An object or device, such as a disk, on which data is stored. 6. pl. mediums A person thought to have the power to communicate with the spirits of the dead or with agents of another world or dimension. Also called psychic. 7. pl. media a. A surrounding environment in which something functions and thrives. b. The substance in which a specific organism lives and thrives. c. A culture medium. 8. a. A specific kind of artistic technique or means of expression as determined by the materials used or the creative methods involved: the medium of lithography. b. The materials used in a specific artistic technique: oils as a medium. 9. A solvent with which paint is thinned to the proper consistency. 10. Chemistry A filtering substance, such as filter paper. 11. A size of paper, usually 18 × 23 inches or 17 1/2 × 22 inches. adj. Occurring or being between two degrees, amounts, or quantities; intermediate: broil a medium steak. See Synonyms at average.
[Latin, from neuter of medius, middle; see medhyo- in Indo-European roots.] Usage Note: The etymologically plural form media is often used as a singular to refer to a particular means of communication, as in The Internet is the most exciting new media since television. Many people regard this usage as incorrect, preferring medium in such contexts.·People also use media with the definite article as a collective term to refer not to the forms of communication themselves so much as the communities and institutions behind them. In this sense, the media means something like "the press." Like other collective nouns, it may take a singular or plural verb depending on the intended meaning. If the point is to emphasize the multifaceted nature of the press, a plural verb may be more appropriate: The media have covered the trial in a variety of formats. Frequently, however, media stands as a singular noun for the aggregate of journalists and broadcasters: The media has not shown much interest in covering the trial. This development of a singular media parallels that of more established words such as data and agenda, which are also Latin plurals that have acquired a singular meaning.·The singular medium cannot be used as a collective noun for the press. The sentence No medium has shown much interest in covering the issue, would suggest that the lack of interest is in the means of communication itself rather than in its practitioners. |
medium Adjective midway between extremes of size, amount, or degree: fry over a medium heat, a man of medium height Noun pl -dia or -diums 1. a middle state, degree, or condition: the happy medium 2. a substance which has a particular effect or can be used for a particular purpose: linseed oil is used as a thinning medium for oil paint 3. a means for communicating information or news to the public 4. a person who can supposedly communicate with the dead 5. the substance or surroundings in which an organism naturally lives or grows 6. Art the category of a work of art, as determined by its materials: his works in the photographic medium [Latin medius middle] USAGE: See at media.
medium (md-m) Plural media 1. A substance, such as agar, in which bacteria or other microorganisms are grown for scientific purposes. 2. A substance that makes possible the transfer of energy from one location to another, especially through waves. For example, matter of sufficient density can be a medium for sound waves, which transfer mechanical energy. See more at wave. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | medium - a means or instrumentality for storing or communicating informationvehicle - a medium for the expression or achievement of something; "his editorials provided a vehicle for his political views"; "a congregation is a vehicle of group identity"; "the play was just a vehicle to display her talents" paper - a medium for written communication; "the notion of an office running without paper is absurd" cinema, film, celluloid - a medium that disseminates moving pictures; "theater pieces transferred to celluloid"; "this story would be good cinema"; "film coverage of sporting events" print media - a medium that disseminates printed matter album, record album - one or more recordings issued together; originally released on 12-inch phonograph records (usually with attractive record covers) and later on cassette audiotape and compact disc | | 2. | medium - the surrounding environment; "fish require an aqueous medium" | | 3. | medium - an intervening substance through which signals can travel as a means for communicationcommunicating, communication - the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information; "they could not act without official communication from Moscow" aether, ether - a medium that was once supposed to fill all space and to support the propagation of electromagnetic waves airwave, air - medium for radio and television broadcasting; "the program was on the air from 9 til midnight"; "the president used the airwaves to take his message to the people" ban, censor - forbid the public distribution of ( a movie or a newspaper) | | 4. | medium - (bacteriology) a nutrient substance (solid or liquid) that is used to cultivate micro-organismsfood, nutrient - any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue bacteriology - the branch of medical science that studies bacteria in relation to disease | | 5. | medium - a liquid with which pigment is mixed by a painterliquid - a substance that is liquid at room temperature and pressure magilp, megilp - a medium for oil-paints; linseed oil mixed with mastic varnish or turpentine | | 6. | medium - (biology) a substance in which specimens are preserved or displayedsubstance - the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists; "DNA is the substance of our genes" | | 7. | medium - an intervening substance through which something is achieved; "the dissolving medium is called a solvent"substance - the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists; "DNA is the substance of our genes" | | 8. | medium - a state that is intermediate between extremes; a middle position; "a happy medium"state - the way something is with respect to its main attributes; "the current state of knowledge"; "his state of health"; "in a weak financial state" | | 9. | medium - someone who serves as an intermediary between the living and the dead; "he consulted several mediums"psychic - a person apparently sensitive to things beyond the natural range of perception | | 10. | medium - (usually plural) transmissions that are disseminated widely to the publictransmission - communication by means of transmitted signals | | 11. | medium - an occupation for which you are especially well suited; "in law he found his true metier" | | Adj. | 1. | medium - around the middle of a scale of evaluation; "an orange of average size"; "intermediate capacity"; "medium bombers"moderate - being within reasonable or average limits; not excessive or extreme; "moderate prices"; "a moderate income"; "a moderate fine"; "moderate demands"; "a moderate estimate"; "a moderate eater"; "moderate success"; "a kitchen of moderate size"; "the X-ray showed moderate enlargement of the heart" | | 2. | medium - (meat) cooked until there is just a little pink meat insidecooked - having been prepared for eating by the application of heat |
medium  Translations medium [ˈmiːdɪəm] adj → mediano; [ level, height] → medion [ pl media] (= means); medio [ pl mediums] ( person) → médium m/f;
 medium [ˈmiːdɪəm] adj → moyen(ne)n [ media , pl ] (= means); moyen m [ mediums , pl ] (= person); médium m;
 medium [ˈmiːdɪəm] [ media or mediums , pl ] adj → mittlere(r, s) ( substance, material) → Medium nt [ mediums , pl ] ( person) → Medium nt;
 medium [ˈmiːdɪəm] adj → medio/an [ pl media] (= means); mezzo [ pl mediums] ( person) → medium m inv;
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