middle
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mid·dle
(mĭd′l)adj.
1. Equally distant from extremes or limits; central: the middle point on a line.
2. Being at neither one extreme nor the other, as of a sequence or scale; intermediate: the middle decades of the century.
3. Middle
a. Of or relating to a division of geologic time between an earlier and a later division: the Middle Paleozoic.
b. Of or relating to a stage in the development of a language or literature between earlier and later stages: Middle Swedish.
4. Grammar Of, relating to, or being a verb form or voice in which the subject both performs and is affected by the action specified.
n.
1. An area or a point equidistant between extremes; a center: the middle of a circle.
2. Something intermediate between extremes: the middle of the story.
3. The middle part of the human body; the waist.
4. Logic A middle term.
5. Grammar
a. The middle voice.
b. A verb form in the middle voice.
tr.v. mid·dled, mid·dling, mid·dles
Idiom: 1. To place in the middle.
2. Nautical To fold in the middle: middle the sail.
in the middle
1. In a difficult situation: caught in the middle of a controversy.
2. Engaged in doing something: I'm in the middle of making dinner.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
middle
(ˈmɪdəl)adj
1. equally distant from the ends or periphery of something; central
2. intermediate in status, situation, etc
3. located between the early and late parts of a series, time sequence, etc
4. not extreme, esp in size; medium
5. (Grammar) (esp in Greek and Sanskrit grammar) denoting a voice of verbs expressing reciprocal or reflexive action. Compare active5, passive5
6. (Languages) (usually capital) (of a language) intermediate between the earliest and the modern forms: Middle English.
n
7. an area or point equal in distance from the ends or periphery or in time between the early and late parts
8. an intermediate part or section, such as the waist
9. (Grammar) grammar the middle voice
10. (Logic) logic See middle term
11. (Agriculture) the ground between rows of growing plants
12. (Journalism & Publishing) a discursive article in a journal, placed between the leading articles and the book reviews
13. (Individual Sports, other than specified) cricket a position on the batting creases in alignment with the middle stumps on which a batsman may take guard
vb (tr)
14. to place in the middle
15. (Nautical Terms) nautical to fold in two
16. (Soccer) football to return (the ball) from the wing to midfield
17. (Cricket) cricket to hit (the ball) with the middle of the bat
[Old English middel; compare Old Frisian middel, Dutch middel, German mittel]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
mid•dle
(ˈmɪd l)adj.
1. equally distant from the extremes or outer limits; central: the middle part of a room.
2. intermediate or intervening: the middle distance.
3. medium or average: a man of middle size.
4. (cap.) (in the history of a language) intermediate between periods classified as Old and Modern: Middle English.
5. of, pertaining to, or being a verb form or voice, as in Greek, in which the subject is represented as acting on or for itself, in contrast to the active voice in which the subject acts and the passive voice in which the subject is acted upon.
6. (often cap.) intermediate between the upper and lower divisions of a geologic period, system, or the like: the Middle Devonian.
n. 7. the point, part, position, etc., equidistant from extremes or limits: in the middle of the pool.
8. the central part of the human body, esp. the waist: He bent at the middle.
[before 900; Middle English, Old English middel, West Germanic adj. derivative of *middi mid1]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
middle
– centre1. 'middle'
The middle of a two-dimensional shape or area is the part that is furthest from its sides, edges, or boundaries.
In the middle of the lawn was a great cedar tree.
Foster was standing in the middle of the room.
2. 'centre'
Centre is used in a similar way, but it usually refers to a more precise point or position. For example, in mathematics you talk about the centre of a circle, not the 'middle'.
...the centre of the cyclone.
In American English, this word is spelled center.
At the center of the monument was a photograph.
3. other meanings of 'middle'
The middle of a road or river is the part that is furthest from its sides or banks.
...white lines painted along the middle of the highway.
We managed to pull on to a sandbank in the middle of the river.
The middle of an event or period of time is a period which is halfway between its beginning and its end.
We landed at Canton in the middle of a torrential storm.
...the middle of December.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
middle
Past participle: middled
Gerund: middling
Imperative |
---|
middle |
middle |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | middle - an area that is approximately central within some larger region; "it is in the center of town"; "they ran forward into the heart of the struggle"; "they were in the eye of the storm" area, country - a particular geographical region of indefinite boundary (usually serving some special purpose or distinguished by its people or culture or geography); "it was a mountainous area"; "Bible country" center stage, centre stage - the central area on a theater stage storm center, storm centre - the central area or place of lowest barometric pressure within a storm financial center - the part of a city where financial institutions are centered hub - a center of activity or interest or commerce or transportation; a focal point around which events revolve; "the playground is the hub of parental supervision"; "the airport is the economic hub of the area" inner city - the older and more populated and (usually) poorer central section of a city medical center - the part of a city where medical facilities are centered midfield - (sports) the middle part of a playing field (as in football or lacrosse) seat - a center of authority (as a city from which authority is exercised) midstream - the middle of a stream |
2. | middle - an intermediate part or section; "A whole is that which has beginning, middle, and end"- Aristotle division, section, part - one of the portions into which something is regarded as divided and which together constitute a whole; "the written part of the exam"; "the finance section of the company"; "the BBC's engineering division" beginning - the first part or section of something; "`It was a dark and stormy night' is a hackneyed beginning for a story" end - a final part or section; "we have given it at the end of the section since it involves the calculus"; "Start at the beginning and go on until you come to the end" | |
3. | ![]() | |
4. | middle - time between the beginning and the end of a temporal period; "the middle of the war"; "rain during the middle of April" point in time, point - an instant of time; "at that point I had to leave" deep - the central and most intense or profound part; "in the deep of night"; "in the deep of winter" commencement, get-go, offset, outset, showtime, starting time, beginning, start, kickoff, first - the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the get-go that he was the man for her" | |
Verb | 1. | middle - put in the middle |
Adj. | 1. | ![]() intermediate - lying between two extremes in time or space or state; "going from sitting to standing without intermediate pushes with the hands"; "intermediate stages in a process"; "intermediate stops on the route"; "an intermediate range plane" |
2. | ![]() central - in or near a center or constituting a center; the inner area; "a central position" | |
3. | middle - of a stage in the development of a language or literature between earlier and later stages; "Middle English is the English language from about 1100 to 1500"; "Middle Gaelic" linguistics - the scientific study of language early - of an early stage in the development of a language or literature; "the Early Hebrew alphabetical script is that used mainly from the 11th to the 6th centuries B.C."; "Early Modern English is represented in documents printed from 1476 to 1700" late - of a later stage in the development of a language or literature; used especially of dead languages; "Late Greek" | |
4. | middle - between an earlier and a later period of time; "in the middle years"; "in his middle thirties" early - at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time; "early morning"; "an early warning"; "early diagnosis"; "an early death"; "took early retirement"; "an early spring"; "early varieties of peas and tomatoes mature before most standard varieties" late - being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time; "late evening"; "late 18th century"; "a late movie"; "took a late flight"; "had a late breakfast" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
middle
noun
adjective
1. central, medium, inside, mid, intervening, inner, halfway, intermediate, median, medial that crucial middle point of the picture
2. intermediate, inside, intervening, inner the middle level of commanding officers
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
middle
adjective2. Not extreme:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
middle
[ˈmɪdl]A. N
1. [of object, area] → centro m, medio m
in the middle of the table/the room → en medio or en el centro de la mesa/la habitación
he was in the middle of the road → estaba en medio or en (la) mitad de la carretera
the potatoes were raw in the middle → las patatas estaban crudas por el centro
to cut sth down the middle → cortar algo por el medio or por la mitad
we agreed to split the bill down the middle → acordamos dividir la cuenta por la mitad
the party is split down the middle on this issue → el partido está dividido en dos facciones con respecto a este tema
in the middle of nowhere → quién sabe dónde, en el quinto pino (Sp)
right in the middle, in the very middle (physically) → en el mismo centro
in the middle of the table/the room → en medio or en el centro de la mesa/la habitación
he was in the middle of the road → estaba en medio or en (la) mitad de la carretera
the potatoes were raw in the middle → las patatas estaban crudas por el centro
to cut sth down the middle → cortar algo por el medio or por la mitad
we agreed to split the bill down the middle → acordamos dividir la cuenta por la mitad
the party is split down the middle on this issue → el partido está dividido en dos facciones con respecto a este tema
in the middle of nowhere → quién sabe dónde, en el quinto pino (Sp)
right in the middle, in the very middle (physically) → en el mismo centro
2. [of period] in the middle of the night → en mitad de la noche
in the middle of summer → en pleno verano
in or about or towards the middle of May → a mediados de mayo
in the middle of the morning → a media mañana
the heat in the middle of the day was intense → el calor del mediodía era intenso
he was in his middle thirties → tenía unos treinta y cinco años, tenía treinta y tantos años
in the middle of summer → en pleno verano
in or about or towards the middle of May → a mediados de mayo
in the middle of the morning → a media mañana
the heat in the middle of the day was intense → el calor del mediodía era intenso
he was in his middle thirties → tenía unos treinta y cinco años, tenía treinta y tantos años
3. [of activity] to be in the middle of sth → estar en mitad de algo
we were in the middle of dinner → estábamos en mitad de la cena
I'm in the middle of a conversation → estoy en mitad de una conversación
to be in the middle of doing sth: I'm in the middle of reading it → lo estoy leyendo
I'm right in the middle of getting lunch → justo ahora estoy preparando la comida
see also week
we were in the middle of dinner → estábamos en mitad de la cena
I'm in the middle of a conversation → estoy en mitad de una conversación
to be in the middle of doing sth: I'm in the middle of reading it → lo estoy leyendo
I'm right in the middle of getting lunch → justo ahora estoy preparando la comida
see also week
B. ADJ
1. (= central) the middle shelf of the oven → la bandeja del medio del horno
my middle daughter → mi segunda hija, mi hija de en medio
middle ground → terreno m neutral
in the middle years of the nineteenth century → a mediados del siglo diecinueve
women in their middle years → mujeres de mediana edad
to steer or take a middle course → tomar por la calle de en medio
my middle daughter → mi segunda hija, mi hija de en medio
middle ground → terreno m neutral
in the middle years of the nineteenth century → a mediados del siglo diecinueve
women in their middle years → mujeres de mediana edad
to steer or take a middle course → tomar por la calle de en medio
C. CPD middle age N → madurez f
the Middle Ages NPL → la Edad Media
Middle America N (= Central America) → Mesoamérica f, Centroamérica f (US) (Geog) → el centro de los Estados Unidos (fig) (US) (= middle class) → la clase media norteamericana
middle C N (Mus) → do m (en medio del piano)
the middle class(es) N(PL) → la clase media
the middle classes → la clase media
the upper/lower middle class(es) → la clase media alta/baja
see also middle-class middle distance N in the middle distance (gen) → a una distancia intermedia (Art) → en segundo plano
see also middle-distance middle ear N → oído m medio
the Middle East N → el Oriente Medio
Middle English N la lengua inglesa de la edad media
middle finger N → dedo m corazón
middle management N → mandos mpl medios
middle manager N → mando mf medio
middle name N → segundo nombre m de pila
"discretion" is my middle name → soy la discreción en persona
middle school N (Brit) colegio para niños de ocho o nueve a doce o trece años (US) colegio para niños de doce a catorce años
the Middle West N (US) la región central de los Estados Unidos
the Middle Ages NPL → la Edad Media
Middle America N (= Central America) → Mesoamérica f, Centroamérica f (US) (Geog) → el centro de los Estados Unidos (fig) (US) (= middle class) → la clase media norteamericana
middle C N (Mus) → do m (en medio del piano)
the middle class(es) N(PL) → la clase media
the middle classes → la clase media
the upper/lower middle class(es) → la clase media alta/baja
see also middle-class middle distance N in the middle distance (gen) → a una distancia intermedia (Art) → en segundo plano
see also middle-distance middle ear N → oído m medio
the Middle East N → el Oriente Medio
Middle English N la lengua inglesa de la edad media
middle finger N → dedo m corazón
middle management N → mandos mpl medios
middle manager N → mando mf medio
middle name N → segundo nombre m de pila
"discretion" is my middle name → soy la discreción en persona
middle school N (Brit) colegio para niños de ocho o nueve a doce o trece años (US) colegio para niños de doce a catorce años
the Middle West N (US) la región central de los Estados Unidos
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
middle
(ˈmidl) noun1. the central point or part. the middle of a circle.medio, centro
2. the central area of the body; the waist. You're getting rather fat round your middle.cintura
adjectiveˈmiddling adjectivemiddle age the years between youth and old age. She is well into middle age. mediana edad
ˌmiddle-ˈaged adjectiveMiddle Ages (with the) the time between the end of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. Edad Media
Middle East (with the) Egypt and the countries of Asia west of Pakistan. Oriente Medio
ˈmiddleman (-mӕn) noun a dealer who buys goods from the person who makes or grows them, and sells them to shopkeepers or to the public; a wholesaler. You can save money by buying direct from the factory and cutting out the middleman.intermediario
be in the middle of (doing) something to be busily occupied doing something. Please excuse my appearance. I was in the middle of washing my hair. estar (justo) haciendo algo, estar ocupado haciendo algo
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
middle
→ medioMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
mid·dle
n. medio, centro;
in the ___ of → en el ___ de.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
middle
adj (finger) medio; n medio, (length) mitad f; in the middle of your hand..en medio de la mano… the middle of your arm..la mitad del brazo… in the middle of the night..en medio de la nocheEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.