- a plural of medium
the means of communication that reach large numbers of people, such as television, newspapers, and radio
of or relating to the mass media: media hype
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
me•di•a1 /ˈmidiə/USA pronunciation
n.
adj. [before a noun]
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025- [plural] a pl. of medium.
- means of communication, as radio, television, and magazines, with wide reach and influence: [uncountable; used with a singular verb][the + ~]The media is to blame for the defeat of our candidate.[plural* used with a plural verb]:The media have too much influence over elections.
adj. [before a noun]
- of or relating to the media:media research.
me•di•um /ˈmidiəm/USA pronunciation
n., pl. -di•a /-diə/USA pronunciation for 1-9. 11, in Unabridged dictionary -di•ums for 1-11. 17, in Unabridged dictionary, adj..
n. [countable]
adj. [usually: before a noun]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025n. [countable]
- a middle state or condition:He had reached a happy medium: not too rich, not too poor.
- Physicsa substance, as air, through which a force acts or is carried:the medium of air through which sound waves travel.
- a means by which something is accomplished:Words are a medium of expression.
- Dialect Termsone of the means or channels of general communication or entertainment in society, as newspapers or television.
- surrounding conditions or influences;
environment:In the air the bird was in its natural medium. - one who claims to be able to contact the spirits of the dead.
- Fine Artthe material or technique with which an artist works.
adj. [usually: before a noun]
- halfway between extremes in degree, quantity, position, or quality:He was of medium build.
me•di•a1
(mē′dē ə),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
me•di•a2 (mē′dē ə),USA pronunciation n., pl. -di•ae
Me•di•a (mē′dē ə),USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- a pl. of medium.
- (usually used with a pl. v.) the means of communication, as radio and television, newspapers, and magazines, that reach or influence people widely:The media are covering the speech tonight.
adj.
- pertaining to or concerned with such means:a job in media research.
- Media, like data, is the plural form of a word borrowed directly from Latin. The singular, medium, early developed the meaning "an intervening agency, means, or instrument'' and was first applied to newspapers two centuries ago. In the 1920s media began to appear as a singular collective noun, sometimes with the plural medias. This singular use is now common in the fields of mass communication and advertising, but it is not frequently found outside them:The media is (or are) not antibusiness.
me•di•a2 (mē′dē ə),USA pronunciation n., pl. -di•ae
-
(-dē ē′).USA pronunciation
- PhoneticsGk. Gram. a voiced plosive, as β, δ, γ.
- Anatomythe middle layer of an artery or lymphatic vessel.
- Insects[Entomol.]a longitudinal vein in the middle portion of the wing of an insect.
- Late Latin (grammar sense only), noun, nominal use of feminine singular of Latin medius central, mid1
- 1835–45
Me•di•a (mē′dē ə),USA pronunciation n.
- Place Names, Ancient Historyan ancient country in W Asia, S of the Caspian Sea, corresponding generally to NW Iran. Cap.: Ecbatana.
me•di•um
(mē′dē əm),USA pronunciation n., pl. -di•a (-dē ə)USA pronunciation for 1–9, 11, -di•ums for 1–11, 14, adj.
n.
adj.
n.
- a middle state or condition;
mean. - something intermediate in nature or degree.
- Physicsan intervening substance, as air, through which a force acts or an effect is produced.
- the element that is the natural habitat of an organism.
- surrounding objects, conditions, or influences;
environment. - an intervening agency, means, or instrument by which something is conveyed or accomplished:Words are a medium of expression.
- Dialect Termsone of the means or channels of general communication, information, or entertainment in society, as newspapers, radio, or television.
- [Biol.]the substance in which specimens are displayed or preserved.
- Also called culture medium. [Bacteriol.]a liquid or solidified nutrient material suitable for the cultivation of microorganisms.
- a person through whom the spirits of the dead are alleged to be able to contact the living.
- Fine Art
- [Painting.]a liquid with which pigments are mixed.
- the material or technique with which an artist works:the medium of watercolor.
- Printinga size of printing paper, 18½ × 23½ in. (47 × 60 cm) in England, 18 × 23 to 19 × 25 in. (46 × 58 to 48 × 64 cm) in America.
- Printing[Chiefly Brit.]a size of drawing or writing paper, 17½ × 22 in. (44 × 56 cm).
- Transport, Dialect TermsAlso called medium strip. [Midland U.S.]See median strip.
- Show Businessin medium, [Motion Pictures, Television.]with the principal actors in the middle distance:The scene was shot in medium.
adj.
- about halfway between extremes, as of degree, amount, quality, position, or size:Cook over medium heat. He is of medium height.
- Latin: the middle, noun, nominal use of neuter of medius middle. See mid1
- 1575–85
- 16.See corresponding entry in Unabridged average, mean, middling.
- 7. See media 1.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
an ancient country of SW Asia, south of the Caspian Sea: inhabited by the Medes; overthrew the Assyrian Empire in 612 bc in alliance with Babylonia; conquered by Cyrus the Great in 550 bc; corresponds to present-day NW Iran
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
midway between extremes; average (of a colour) reflecting or transmitting a moderate amount of light
Comparelight 1 29 dark 2
an intermediate or middle state, degree, or condition; mean: the happy medium an intervening substance or agency for transmitting or producing an effect; vehicle a means or agency for communicating or diffusing information, news, etc, to the public a person supposedly used as a spiritual intermediary between the dead and the living the substance in which specimens of animals and plants are preserved or displayed - short for culture medium
the substance or surroundings in which an organism naturally lives or grows the category of a work of art, as determined by its materials and methods of production the materials used in a work of art any solvent in which pigments are mixed and thinned