medium

medium, median, average

这些形容词均含“中等的、平均的、适中的”之意。
medium: 指按照某种标准来说是适中或中等的，这种标准可以是通过仪器测量而来，也可能是凭经验而得出。
median: 指中间位置的，统计学上指处于中间位置的一个数的。
average: 通常用来形容优劣难分的平庸或折衷情况，也指理论上的平均标准。

名词 medium:

1. a means or instrumentality for storing or communicating information
2. the surrounding environment
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-organisms
   同义词：culture medium
5. an intervening substance through which something is achieved
6. a liquid with which pigment is mixed by a painter
7. (biology) a substance in which specimens are preserved or displayed
8. a state that is intermediate between extremes; a middle position
9. someone who serves as an intermediary between the living and the dead
   同义词：spiritualist, sensitive
10. (usually plural) transmissions that are disseminated widely to the public
    同义词：mass medium
11. an occupation for which you are especially well suited
    同义词：metier

形容词 medium:

1. around the middle of a scale of evaluation of physical measures
   同义词：average, intermediate
2. (meat) cooked until there is just a little pink meat inside

1. He prefers a happy medium in life.
   他在生活中甘居中游。
2. My gloves are size medium.
   我的手套尺寸是中号。
3. This cloth is of medium quality.
   这种布质量平平。
4. Sound travels through the medium of air.
   声音通过空气这一媒介传播。

me.di.um

n.（名词）
【复数】 me.di.a[-dô-…] 或 me.di.ums 缩写 med.,m.,M.
Something, such as an intermediate course of action, that occupies a position or represents a condition midway between extremes.
中间，中庸：介于两个极端中间的位置或状态的东西，例如一行动的中间过程
An intervening substance through which something else is transmitted or carried on.
介质，触媒：通过它能传递或继续某种事物的中介物质
An agency by which something is accomplished, conveyed, or transferred:
媒介，手段：通过它能完成、传输或转移某种事物的东西：
例句：
The train was the usual medium of transportation in those days.
在当时，火车是普遍的运输工具

pl. media Usage Problem
【复数】 media 【用法疑难】
A means of mass communication, such as newpapers, magazines, radio, or television.
大众传媒：大众传播手段，如报纸、杂志、广播或电视
media (used with a sing. or pl. verb)The group of journalists and others who constitute the communications industry and profession.
media （与单数或复数动词连用）传播业者：组成传媒业或传媒职业的一群新闻记者和其他人
pl. mediums A person thought to have the power to communicate with the spirits of the dead or with agents of another world or dimension.Also called psychic
【复数】 mediums 灵媒，降神者：被认为是有能力与死者的灵魂或另一世界或空间的力量进行交流的人也作 psychic
pl. media
【复数】 media
A surrounding environment in which something functions and thrives.
环境：某物起作用或成长所需之外部环境
The substance in which a specific organism lives and thrives.
培养基：某种有机体生活、成长于其中的物质
A culture medium.
培养基

A specific kind of artistic technique or means of expression as determined by the materials used or the creative methods involved:
技巧，工具：由所用材料或创造性方法所决定的艺术表现的技巧或手段：
例句：
the medium of lithography.
石版印刷术的技巧

The materials used in a specific artistic technique:
材质：特定艺术技法所采用的材料：
例句：
oils as a medium.
以油彩为艺术材质

A solvent with which paint is thinned to the proper consistency.
颜料溶解液，展色剂：用以稀释颜料至合适浓度的稀释液
Chemistry A filtering substance, such as filter paper.
【化学】 过滤材料：有过滤作用的材料，如滤纸
A size of paper, usually 8 × 23 inches or 7ô × 22 inches.
中号尺寸：纸张的尺寸，通常为8×23英寸或7ô ×22英寸
adj.Abbr. med.,m.,M.（形容词）缩写 med.,m.,M.
Occurring or being between two degrees, amounts, or quantities; intermediate:
中等的，中间的：在程度、数量、质量上中间的；居于中间的：
例句：
broil a medium steak.See Synonyms at average
烤一块不老不嫩的牛排参见 average

来源：
Latin [from neuter of] medius [middle] * see medhyo-
拉丁语 [] 源自medius的中性词 [中间的] *参见 medhyo-

The etymologically plural formmedia is often used as a singular to refer to a particular means of communication,as inThis is the most exciting new media since television. This usage is widely regarded as incorrect;medium is preferred. A stronger case can be made in defense of the use ofmedia as a collective term, as inThe media has not shown much interest in covering the issue. As with the analogous wordsdata and agenda, the originally plural form has begun to acquire a sense that departs from that of the singular: used as a collective term,media denotes an industry or community. Thus the example sentence given here would not be appropriately paraphrased asNo medium has shown much interest in covering the issue, which suggests that the disinclination abides in the means of communication itselfrather than in its practitioners.Ifmedia follows the pattern of data and agenda, this singular use may become entirely acceptable someday.But despite its utility,many people still regard it as a grammatical error.
语源复数形式media 常用作单数， 用来指传播手段中的某一种，例如在下面这是自电视出现以来最激动人心的新式传媒 的句子中。 许多人都认为这一用法是不正确的；他们还是喜欢用medium 这一单数形式。 我们能提出更为有力的例子来为media 作为集合名词的用法进行辩护， 如下面的句子：大众传媒对于报道这一事件没有表现出多大兴趣 。 正如类似于原为复数形式的其他两个词data 和 agenda 已经开始具有其单数形式的含义： 用作集合名词的media 现在则可以指传播工业或共同体。 这样的话，我们刚才给出的例句就不能改成如下形式：没有传媒对报道这一事件表现出很大兴趣 ， 因为这样改动后，这句话所表示的是传播工具本身的不愿意，而不是业者的不愿意。如果media 也象 data 和 agenda 那样， 那么它作为单数形式的用法总有一天会被完全接受的。但是不管它的实用性大小，许多人仍将其视为一个语法错误