medium Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a means or instrumentality for storing or communicating information
  2. noun the surrounding environment
    • fish require an aqueous medium
  3. noun an intervening substance through which signals can travel as a means for communication
  4. noun (bacteriology) a nutrient substance (solid or liquid) that is used to cultivate micro-organisms
    culture medium.
  5. noun a liquid with which pigment is mixed by a painter
  6. noun (biology) a substance in which specimens are preserved or displayed
  7. noun an intervening substance through which something is achieved
    • the dissolving medium is called a solvent
  8. noun a state that is intermediate between extremes; a middle position
    • a happy medium
  9. noun someone who serves as an intermediary between the living and the dead
    spiritualist; sensitive.
    • he consulted several mediums
  10. noun (usually plural) transmissions that are disseminated widely to the public
    mass medium.
  11. noun an occupation for which you are especially well suited
    metier.
    • in law he found his true metier
  12. adjective satellite around the middle of a scale of evaluation
    average; intermediate.
    • an orange of average size
    • intermediate capacity
    • medium bombers
  13. adjective satellite (meat) cooked until there is just a little pink meat inside

WordNet

Me"di*um noun
Etymology
L. medium the middle, fr. medius middle. See Mid, and cf. Medius.
Wordforms
plural L Media E Mediums
Definitions
  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. L'Estrange.
    (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. Bacon.
    I must bring together All these extremes; and must remove all mediums. Denham.
  3. An average. R.
    A medium of six years of war, and six years of peace. Burke.
  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.
Me"di*um adjective
Definitions
  1. Having a middle position or degree; mean; intermediate; medial; as, a horse of medium size; a decoction of medium strength.

Webster 1913