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Medium   /mˈidiəm/   Listen
noun
Medium  n.  (pl. L. media, E. mediums)  
1.
That which lies in the middle, or between other things; intervening body or quantity. Hence, specifically:
(a)
Middle place or degree; mean. "The just medium... lies between pride and abjection."
(b)
(Math.) See Mean.
(c)
(Logic) The mean or middle term of a syllogism; that by which the extremes are brought into connection.
2.
A substance through which an effect is transmitted from one thing to another; as, air is the common medium of sound. Hence: The condition upon which any event or action occurs; necessary means of motion or action; that through or by which anything is accomplished, conveyed, or carried on; specifically, In animal magnetism, spiritualism, etc., a person through whom the action of another being is said to be manifested and transmitted. "Whether any other liquors, being made mediums, cause a diversity of sound from water, it may be tried." "I must bring together All these extremes; and must remove all mediums."
3.
An average. (R.) "A medium of six years of war, and six years of peace."
4.
A trade name for printing and writing paper of certain sizes. See Paper.
5.
(Paint.) The liquid vehicle with which dry colors are ground and prepared for application.
6.
(Microbiology) A source of nutrients in which a microorganism is placed to permit its growth, cause it to produce substances, or observe its activity under defined conditions; also called culture medium or growth medium. The medium is usually a solution of nutrients in water, or a similar solution solidified with gelatin or agar.
7.
A means of transmission of news, advertising, or other messages from an information source to the public, also called a news medium, such as a newspaper or radio; used mostly in the plural form, i. e. news media or media. See 1st media (2).
Circulating medium, a current medium of exchange, whether coin, bank notes, or government notes.
Ethereal medium (Physics), the ether.
Medium of exchange, that which is used for effecting an exchange of commodities money or current representatives of money.



adjective
Medium  adj.  Having a middle position or degree; mean; intermediate; medial; as, a horse of medium size; a decoction of medium strength.






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"Medium" Quotes from Famous Books



... Europe. The temperature of springs in northern regions, when the surface water is frozen, is higher than the mean temperature of the superincumbent atmosphere; and in the countries from the south of Europe to the Tropic, the temperature of springs is lower than that of the medium temperature of ...
— The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction - Volume 13, No. 362, Saturday, March 21, 1829 • Various

... question," said Mr. Slope, laughing slightly; "of course no such demand shall be made on your father. I can at any rate promise you that I will not be the medium of any so absurd a requisition. We wished your father to preach in the hospital, as the inmates may naturally be too old to leave it, but even that shall not be insisted on. We wished also to attach a Sabbath-day school to the hospital, thinking that such ...
— Barchester Towers • Anthony Trollope

... world. The first thing the wizard does is to obtain a fragment of food, a bit of hair, a nail-clipping, or indeed anything that has been closely connected with the person of his intended victim. This is the medium through which the power of the ghost or spirit is brought to bear; it is, so to say, the point of support on which the magician rests the whole weight of his infernal engine. In order to give effect to the charm it is very desirable, if not absolutely necessary, to possess ...
— The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead, Volume I (of 3) • Sir James George Frazer

... "right to govern wrong" was to her a simple truth—an inalienable marital privilege, to be met with that unqualified submission which must have shamed the worst temper into self-control. Eive on one occasion made a similar request; but besides that I realised the convenience of a medium of communication understood by ourselves alone, I had no inclination to expose either my own temper or Eive's to the trial. Eveena's second request came naturally from one whose favourite amusement had been the raising and modification of ...
— Across the Zodiac • Percy Greg

... much relishing being dictated to with respect to her conduct in relation to the persons of her household, especially the Abbe Vermond, and aware, at the same time, of her dislike to Necker, who thus undertook to be her director, I felt rather awkward in being the medium of the Minister's suggestions. But what was my surprise, on finding her prepared, and totally indifferent as ...
— Marguerite de Navarre - Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois Queen of Navarre • Marguerite de Navarre


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