medium

Universal Words adjective, noun adjective [usuallybeforenoun] (abbreviation M) in the middle between two sizes, amounts, lengths, temperatures, etc. SYNAVERAGE: a medium size car / business / town * a man of medium height / build * There are three sizes-small, medium and large. * a medium steak (= one cooked quite well but not too much) * Cook over a medium heat for 15 minutes. * a medium dry white wine * Choose medium to large tomatoes. IDIOMS see TERM noun (plural media or mediums) 1 a way of communicating information, etc. to people: the medium of radio / television * electronic / audio-visual media * Television is the modern medium of communication. * A T-shirt can be an excellent medium for getting your message across. HELPNOTE The plural in this meaning is usually media. seealsoMEDIA, MASSMEDIA 2 something that is used for a particular purpose: English is the medium of instruction (= the language used to teach other subjects). * Video is a good medium for practising listening to a foreign language. 3 the material or the form that an artist, a writer or a musician uses: the medium of paint / poetry / drama * Watercolour is his favourite medium. 4 (biology) a substance that sth exists or grows in or that it travels through: The bacteria were growing in a sugar medium. 5 (plural mediums) a person who claims to be able to communicate with the spirits of dead people IDIOMS see HAPPY