/ 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.
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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 .