medium (mediums plural) (media plural )
The plural of the noun can be either mediums or media for meanings 4 and 5. The form mediums is the plural for meaning 6.
1 adj If something is of medium size, it is neither large nor small, but approximately half way between the two.
usu ADJ n
A medium dose produces severe nausea within hours..., He was of medium height with blond hair and light blue eyes.
2 adj You use medium to describe something which is average in degree or amount, or approximately half way along a scale between two extremes.
usu ADJ n
Foods that contain only medium levels of sodium are bread, cakes, milk, butter and margarine., ...a sweetish, medium-strength beer.
Medium is also an adverb., adv ADV adj
Cook under a medium-hot grill.
3 comb in colour If something is of a medium colour, it is neither light nor dark, but approximately half way between the two.
Andrea has medium brown hair, grey eyes and very pale skin...
4 n-count A medium is a way or means of expressing your ideas or of communicating with people.
In Sierra Leone, English is used as the medium of instruction for all primary education..., But Artaud was increasingly dissatisfied with film as a medium.
5 n-count A medium is a substance or material which is used for a particular purpose or in order to produce a particular effect.
Blood is the medium in which oxygen is carried to all parts of the body..., Hyatt has found a way of creating these qualities using the more permanent medium of oil paint.
6 n-count A medium is a person who claims to be able to contact and speak to people who are dead, and to pass messages between them and people who are still alive.
8 If you strike or find a happy medium between two extreme and opposite courses of action, you find a sensible way of behaving that is somewhere between the two extremes.
happy medium phrase PHR after v I still aim to strike a happy medium between producing football that's worth watching and getting results...
medium-dry , medium dry
Medium-dry wine or sherry is not very sweet. adj
medium-sized , medium size
Medium-sized means neither large nor small, but approximately half way between the two. adj usu ADJ n
...a medium-sized saucepan., ...medium-sized accountancy firms.
medium-term
Themedium-term is the period of time which lasts a few months or years beyond the present time, in contrast with the short term or the long term. n-sing usu N n
The medium-term economic prospects remained poor..., If a woman gives up her job to look after her baby, she will risk losing her salary in the medium-term and may seriously damage her long-term career prospects.
medium wave
Medium wave is a range of radio waves which are used for broadcasting.
(mainly BRIT) n-uncount usu on N
...a station broadcasting pop music on medium wave.
