medium

Noun · Adjective
Synonyms: culture mediumspiritualistsensitivemass mediummetieraverageintermediate

WordNet 3.0

Noun (11)

  1. a means or instrumentality for storing or communicating information
  2. the surrounding environment“fish require an aqueous medium”
  3. an intervening substance through which signals can travel as a means for communication
  4. (bacteriology) a nutrient substance (solid or liquid) that is used to cultivate micro-organismsSynonyms: culture medium
  5. a liquid with which pigment is mixed by a painter
  6. (biology) a substance in which specimens are preserved or displayed
  7. an intervening substance through which something is achieved“the dissolving medium is called a solvent”
  8. a state that is intermediate between extremes; a middle position“a happy medium”
  9. someone who serves as an intermediary between the living and the dead“he consulted several mediums”Synonyms: spiritualistsensitive
  10. (usually plural) transmissions that are disseminated widely to the publicSynonyms: mass medium
  11. an occupation for which you are especially well suited“in law he found his true metier”Synonyms: metier

Adjective (2)

  1. around the middle of a scale of evaluation“an orange of average size”“intermediate capacity”“medium bombers”Synonyms: averageintermediate
  2. (meat) cooked until there is just a little pink meat inside
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Medium \Me"di*um\, n.; pl. L. Media, E. Mediums. [L. medium the middle, fr. medius middle. See Mid, and cf. Medius.]

1.That which lies in the middle, or between other things; intervening body or quantity. Hence, specifically: (a) Middle place or degree; mean. [1913 Webster]

The just medium . . . lies between pride and abjection. --L'Estrange. [1913 Webster] (b) (Math.) See Mean. (c) (Logic) The mean or middle term of a syllogism; that by which the extremes are brought into connection. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Whether any other liquors, being made mediums, cause a diversity of sound from water, it may be tried.— Bacon.[1913 Webster]
I must bring together All these extremes; and must remove all mediums.— Denham.[1913 Webster]

3.An average. [R.] [1913 Webster]

A medium of six years of war, and six years of peace.— Burke.[1913 Webster]

4.A trade name for printing and writing paper of certain sizes. See Paper. [1913 Webster]

5.(Paint.) The liquid vehicle with which dry colors are ground and prepared for application. [1913 Webster]

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. [PJC]

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]. [PJC]

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. [1913 Webster]

Medium \Me"di*um\, a. Having a middle position or degree; mean; intermediate; medial; as, a horse of medium size; a decoction of medium strength. [1913 Webster]
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