MEDIUM


Meaning of MEDIUM in English

/ ˈmiːdiəm; NAmE / adjective , noun

■ adjective

[ usually before noun ] ( abbr. M ) in the middle between two sizes, amounts, lengths, temperatures, etc.

SYN average :

a medium-size car / business / town

a man of medium height / build

There are three sizes—small, medium and large.

Cook over a medium heat for 15 minutes.

a medium dry white wine

Choose medium to large tomatoes.

IDIOMS

see term

■ noun ( pl. media / ˈmiːdiə; NAmE / or me·diums )

1.

a way of communicating information, etc. to people :

the medium of radio / television

electronic / audio-visual media

Television is the modern medium of communication .

A T-shirt can be an excellent medium for getting your message across.

HELP NOTE : The plural in this meaning is usually media .

—see also media , mass media

2.

something that is used for a particular purpose :

English is the medium of instruction (= the language used to teach other subjects) .

Video is a good medium for learning a foreign language.

3.

the material or the form that an artist, a writer or a musician uses :

the medium of paint / poetry / drama

Watercolour is his favourite medium.

4.

( biology ) a substance that sth exists or grows in or that it travels through :

The bacteria were growing in a sugar medium.

5.

( pl. me·diums ) a person who claims to be able to communicate with the spirits of dead people

IDIOMS

see happy

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WORD ORIGIN

late 16th cent. (originally denoting something intermediate in nature or degree): from Latin , literally middle , neuter of medius .

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.