medium Definition

medium
noun mediums (plural in all senses except 2 and 7), media (plural in all senses except 3)

1. Something by or through which an effect is produced.

Thesaurus: means, mode, way, avenue, agency, channel, vehicle.
2. See media.
3. Someone through whom the spirits of dead people are said to communicate with the living.

Thesaurus: fortuneteller, clairvoyant, psychic, seer, prophet, oracle.
4. art.
A particular category of materials seen as a means of expression, eg watercolours, photography or clay.
5. art.
A substance, eg water, oil, turpentine, in which paint is thinned or mixed.
6. biol.
A culture medium.
7. computing.
Any material on which data is recorded, eg magnetic disk.
Form: media (usually)
8. A middle position, condition or course.

Example: a happy medium
Thesaurus: average, centre, mean, middle, middle-of-the-road, midpoint.

adj

1. Intermediate; midway; average.

Thesaurus: median, middling, midway, standard, average, fair.
2. Moderate.
3. Said of meat, especially steak: cooked through so that it is not bloody when cut open. Compare rare², well done.

Etymology: 16c: Latin, from medius middle.