middle

[mid-l]

adjective

1. equally distant from the extremes or outer limits; central.

   the middle point of a line; the middle singer in a trio.

   Synonyms: midway, medial, halfway, equidistant
   Antonyms: extreme

2. intermediate or intervening.

   the middle distance.

3. medium or average.

   a man of middle size.

4. (initial capital letter),  (in the history of a language) intermediate between periods classified as Old and New or Modern.

   Middle English.

5. Grammar.,  (in some languages) noting a voice of verb inflection 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, as in Greek, egrapsámēn “I wrote for myself,” égrapsa “I wrote,” egráphēn “I was written.”

6. (often initial capital letter),  noting the division intermediate between the upper and lower divisions of a period, system, or the like.

   the Middle Devonian.

noun

1. the point, part, position, etc., equidistant from extremes or limits.

   Synonyms: midpoint
   Antonyms: extremity

2. the central part of the human body, especially the waist.

   He gave him a punch in the middle.

3. something intermediate; mean.

4. (in farming) the ground between two rows of plants.

verb (used with or without object)

middled, middling 

1. Chiefly Nautical.,  to fold in half.

middle

/ ˈmɪdəl /

adjective

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. (esp in Greek and Sanskrit grammar) denoting a voice of verbs expressing reciprocal or reflexive action Compare active passive

6. (usually capital) (of a language) intermediate between the earliest and the modern forms

   Middle English

noun

1. an area or point equal in distance from the ends or periphery or in time between the early and late parts

2. an intermediate part or section, such as the waist

3. grammar the middle voice

4. logic See middle term

5. the ground between rows of growing plants

6. a discursive article in a journal, placed between the leading articles and the book reviews

7. cricket a position on the batting creases in alignment with the middle stumps on which a batsman may take guard

verb

1. to place in the middle

2. nautical to fold in two

3. football to return (the ball) from the wing to midfield

4. cricket to hit (the ball) with the middle of the bat

Word History and Origins

Origin of middle¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English middel; cognate with German mittel; akin to Old Norse methal among. See mid ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of middle¹

Old English middel; compare Old Frisian middel, Dutch middel, German mittel

Idioms and Phrases

see caught in the middle; in the middle of; play both ends against the middle.

Synonym Study

Middle, center, midst indicate something from which two or more other things are (approximately or exactly) equally distant. Middle denotes, literally or figuratively, the point or part equidistant from or intermediate between extremes or limits in space or in time: the middle of a road. Center, a more precise word, is ordinarily applied to a point within circular, globular, or regular bodies, or wherever a similar exactness appears to exist: the center of the earth; it may also be used metaphorically (still suggesting the core of a sphere): center of interest. Midst usually suggests that a person or thing is closely surrounded or encompassed on all sides, especially by that which is thick or dense: the midst of a storm.

Example Sentences

“You know, your furniture sucks. It’s pretentious and looks like a middle school kid could’ve carved it.”

Read more on Salon

None of the new blackjack tables will be in Manhattan after earlier ideas to put casinos in the middle of Times Square or atop Saks Fifth Avenue’s flagship store were dropped.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“The Sikh community within trucking is really being squished in the middle of a battle between the state of California and the federal government,” said Kaur, whose father was a truck owner and operator.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Because so many incoming students were numerically illiterate, the university added a remedial class for middle- and elementary-school math.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Her middle son is studying to be a pharmacy technician and her daughter, the youngest, had just turned 16 that day.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• heart 
• midst