middle

mid·dle (m

adj.

1. Equally distant from extremes or limits; central: the middle point on a line.

2. Being at neither one extreme nor the other; intermediate.

a. Intervening between an earlier and a later period of time; being an intermediate part of a sequence or series: the middle years.

b. Middle Geology Of or relating to a division of geologic time between an earlier and a later division: the Middle Paleozoic.

4. Middle Of or relating to a stage in the development of a language or literature between earlier and later stages: Middle Swedish.

5. Grammar Of, relating to, or being a verb form or voice in which the subject both performs and is affected by the action specified.

1. An area or a point equidistant between extremes; a center: the middle of a circle.

2. Something intermediate between extremes; a mean.

3. The interior portion: the middle of a chain.

4. The middle part of the human body; the waist.

5. Logic A middle term.

6. Grammar

a. The middle voice.

b. A verb form in the middle voice.

tr.v. mid·dled, mid·dling, mid·dles

1. To place in the middle.

2. Nautical To fold in the middle: middle the sail.

[Middle English middel, from Old English; see medhyo- in Indo-European roots.]

middle

Noun

1. an area or point equal in distance from the ends or edges of a place: a hotel in the middle of town

2. the time between the first part and last part of an event or period of time: the middle of June, the film got a bit boring in the middle

3. the part of the body around the stomach; waist

4. in the middle of busy doing something: I'm in the middle of washing the dishes

Adjective

1. equally distant from the ends or outer edges of something; central: the middle finger

2. having an equal number of elder and younger brothers and sisters: he was the middle child of three

3. intermediate in status or situation: middle management

4. avoiding extremes; moderate: we must find a middle course between authoritarianism and anarchy [Old English middel]

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	middle - an area that is approximately central within some larger region; "it is in the center of town"; "they ran forward into the heart of the struggle"; "they were in the eye of the storm" center, centre, eye, heart area, country - a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography); "it was a mountainous area"; "Bible country" center stage, centre stage - the central area on a theater stage central city, city center, city centre - the central part of a city storm center, storm centre - the central area or place of lowest barometric pressure within a storm financial center - the part of a city where financial institutions are centered hub - a center of activity or interest or commerce or transportation; a focal point around which events revolve; "the playground is the hub of parental supervision"; "the airport is the economic hub of the area" inner city - the older and more populated and (usually) poorer central section of a city medical center - the part of a city where medical facilities are centered midfield - (sports) the middle part of a playing field (as in football or lacrosse) seat - a center of authority (as a city from which authority is exercised) midstream - the middle of a stream
	2.	middle - an intermediate part or section; "A whole is that which has beginning, middle, and end"- Aristotle division, section, part - one of the portions into which something is regarded as divided and which together constitute a whole; "the written part of the exam"; "the finance section of the company"; "the BBC's engineering division" beginning - the first part or section of something; "`It was a dark and stormy night' is a hackneyed beginning for a story" end - a final part or section; "we have given it at the end of the section since it involves the calculus"; "Start at the beginning and go on until you come to the end"
	3.	middle - the middle area of the human torso (usually in front); "young American women believe that a bare midriff is fashionable" midriff, midsection region, area - a part of an animal that has a special function or is supplied by a given artery or nerve; "in the abdominal region" torso, trunk, body - the body excluding the head and neck and limbs; "they moved their arms and legs and bodies"
	4.	middle - time between the beginning and the end of a temporal period; "the middle of the war"; "rain during the middle of April" point in time, point - an instant of time; "at that point I had to leave" deep - the central and most intense or profound part; "in the deep of night"; "in the deep of winter" commencement, get-go, offset, outset, showtime, starting time, beginning, start, kickoff, first - the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her" end, ending - the point in time at which something ends; "the end of the year"; "the ending of warranty period"
Verb	1.	middle - put in the middle lay, place, put, set, position, pose - put into a certain place or abstract location; "Put your things here"; "Set the tray down"; "Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children"; "Place emphasis on a certain point"
Adj.	1.	middle - being neither at the beginning nor at the end in a series; "adolescence is an awkward in-between age"; "in a mediate position"; "the middle point on a line" in-between, mediate intermediate - lying between two extremes in time or space or state; "going from sitting to standing without intermediate pushes with the hands"; "intermediate stages in a process"; "intermediate stops on the route"; "an intermediate range plane"
	2.	middle - equally distant from the extremes center, halfway, midway central - in or near a center or constituting a center; the inner area; "a central position"
	3.	middle - of a stage in the development of a language or literature between earlier and later stages; "Middle English is the English language from about 1100 to 1500"; "Middle Gaelic" linguistics - the scientific study of language early - of an early stage in the development of a language or literature; "the Early Hebrew alphabetical script is that used mainly from the 11th to the 6th centuries B.C."; "Early Modern English is represented in documents printed from 1476 to 1700" late - of a later stage in the development of a language or literature; used especially of dead languages; "Late Greek"
	4.	middle - between an earlier and a later period of time; "in the middle years"; "in his middle thirties" early - at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time; "early morning"; "an early warning"; "early diagnosis"; "an early death"; "took early retirement"; "an early spring"; "early varieties of peas and tomatoes mature before most standard varieties" late - being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time; "late evening"; "late 18th century"; "a late movie"; "took a late flight"; "had a late breakfast"