middle

The definition of middle is being at a central or intermediate point.

(adjective)

An example of middle used as an adjective is in the phrase "middle child," which means a child who is neither the oldest or youngest in a group of siblings.

Middle is defined as the area that is at the center.

(noun)

An example of a middle is a person's stomach, called "his middle."

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See middle in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. halfway between two given points, times, limits, etc.; also, equally distant from all sides or extremities; in the center; mean
  2. in between; intermediate; intervening
  3. Gram.
    1. denoting the voice or form of a verb whose subject is represented as acting reflexively, or upon itself: in Greek, such verbs are usually passive in grammatical form
    2. in or of the middle voice
  4. Geol. designating a division of a period or a formation between those called Upper and Lower
  5. designating a stage in language development intermediate between those called Old and Modern: Middle English

Origin: ME middel < OE < midd-, mid + -el, -le

noun

  1. a point or part halfway between extremes; middle point, part, time, etc.
  2. something intermediate
  3. the middle part of the body; waist
  4. Gram. the middle voice
  5. middle term

transitive verb, intransitive verb middled, middling

to put in the middle

See middle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective
  1. Equally distant from extremes or limits; central: the middle point on a line.
  2. Being at neither one extreme nor the other; intermediate.
  3. a. Intervening between an earlier and a later period of time; being an intermediate part of a sequence or series: the middle years.
    b. Middle Geology Of or relating to a division of geologic time between an earlier and a later division: the Middle Paleozoic.
  4. Middle Of or relating to a stage in the development of a language or literature between earlier and later stages: Middle Swedish.
  5. Grammar Of, relating to, or being a verb form or voice in which the subject both performs and is affected by the action specified.
noun
  1. An area or a point equidistant between extremes; a center: the middle of a circle.
  2. Something intermediate between extremes; a mean.
  3. The interior portion: the middle of a chain.
  4. The middle part of the human body; the waist.
  5. Logic A middle term.
  6. Grammar
    a. The middle voice.
    b. A verb form in the middle voice.
transitive verb mid·dled, mid·dling, mid·dles
  1. To place in the middle.
  2. Nautical To fold in the middle: middle the sail.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English middel

Origin: , from Old English; see medhyo- in Indo-European roots

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