# medium

/ˈmidiəm/ (US) · /mˈiːdiəm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/medium
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. communication/method

noun · CEFR B1

a way of communicating information or a method used to achieve something.

For teachers: a channel, agency, or means of expression through which information is conveyed or an objective is accomplished.

- Television is still a powerful medium for advertising new products.
- Digital streaming has rapidly overtaken physical discs as the primary medium for consuming high-definition cinematic content.

### 2. art materials

noun · CEFR B2

the materials an artist uses to create a work, such as oil paint, clay, or charcoal.

For teachers: the specific material or technical means used by an artist to produce a work of art.

- Watercolour is a difficult medium to master because the paint dries so quickly.
- The sculptor experimented with bronze as a medium before eventually settling on the more tactile qualities of carved marble.

### 3. clothing size

noun · CEFR A2

a size for clothes or other products that is between small and large.

For teachers: an intermediate manufactured size, typically situated between small and large.

- I usually wear a medium, but this shirt looks a bit tight.
- The retailer reported that medium remains their most frequently requested size across all seasonal apparel lines.

### 5. growth environment

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a substance or environment in which something lives or grows.

For teachers: a nutrient substance or surrounding environment used for the culture and growth of cells or organisms.

- The bacteria were grown in a liquid medium inside a warm incubator.
- The laboratory developed a synthetic growth medium that allowed for the rapid cultivation of rare plant tissues without soil.

### 6. middle size/degree

adjective · CEFR B1

being in the middle between two extremes in size, amount, or quality.

For teachers: of intermediate size, degree, or amount; neither small nor large.

- He is of medium height and has brown hair.
- The company targets medium-sized enterprises that require professional software but lack the budget of a multinational corporation.

### 7. cooked meat

adjective · CEFR B1

meat that is cooked so it is still slightly pink or red in the middle.

For teachers: referring to meat cooked to a degree between rare and well-done, typically retaining a pink centre.

- I would like my steak medium, please.
- The chef recommends ordering the venison medium to ensure the meat remains tender while developing a rich, seared exterior.

## Examples

- Video is a powerful medium for telling stories.
- The artist chose charcoal as her primary medium because it allowed for deep, expressive shadows.
- In microbiology, a nutrient-rich agar serves as the growth medium for cultivating specific bacterial colonies under controlled laboratory conditions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.