The Collaborative International Dictionary
Medium \Me"di*um\, n.; pl. L. Media, E. Mediums. [L. medium the middle, fr. medius middle. See Mid, and cf. Medius.]
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That which lies in the middle, or between other things; intervening body or quantity. Hence, specifically:
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Middle place or degree; mean.
The just medium . . . lies between pride and abjection.
--L'Estrange. (Math.) See Mean.
(Logic) The mean or middle term of a syllogism; that by which the extremes are brought into connection.
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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. -
An average. [R.]
A medium of six years of war, and six years of peace.
--Burke. A trade name for printing and writing paper of certain sizes. See Paper.
(Paint.) The liquid vehicle with which dry colors are ground and prepared for application.
(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.
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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.