n.
Pronunciation: m ē l- ' y ə (r), - ' yü, - ' y; ' m ē l- ˌ yü
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural milieus or mi · lieux \ - ' y ə (r)(z), - ' yüz, - ' y(z); - ˌ yü(z) \
Etymology: French, from Old French, midst, from mi middle (fr. Latin medius ) + lieu place, from Latin locus ― more at MID , STALL
Date: 1854
: the physical or social setting in which something occurs or develops : ENVIRONMENT
synonyms see BACKGROUND