ˈmɪdl adj., n., & v. --attrib.adj. 1 at an
equal distance from the extremities of a
thing. 2 (of a
member of a group) so placed as to
have the
same number of members on
each side. 3
intermediate in rank,
quality, etc. 4
average (of middle height). 5 (of a language) of the
period between the
old and modern forms. 6 Gram. designating the
voice of (esp. Greek) verbs
that expresses
reciprocal or
reflexive action. --n. 1 (often foll. by of) the middle
point or
position or
part. 2 a person's
waist. 3 Gram. the middle
form or voice of a
verb. 4 = middle
term. --v.tr. 1
place in the middle. 2
Football return (the ball) from the
wing to the
midfield. 3 Cricket
strike (the ball)
with the middle of the bat. 4 Naut. fold in the middle. øin the middle of (often foll. by
verbal noun) in the process
of;
during. middle
age the period between
youth and old age,
about 45 to 60. middle-aged in middle age. the Middle Ages the period of
European history from the
fall of the
Roman Empire in the
West (5th c.) to the fall of Constantinople (1453), or
more narrowly from c.1000 to 1453. middle-age (or -aged)
spread the increased
bodily girth often associated with middle age. Middle America 1 Mexico and
Central America. 2 the middle
class in the
US,
esp. as a
conservative political force. middle C Mus. the C
near the middle of the piano
keyboard, the
note between the
treble and bass
staves, at about 260
Hz. middle class the class of
society between the upper and the lower, including
professional and
business workers and
their families. middle-class adj. of the middle class. middle
common room Brit. a common room
for the
use of
graduate members of a
college who are
not Fellows. middle
course a
compromise between
two extremes. middle distance 1 (in a painted or
actual landscape) the part between the
foreground and the
background. 2
Athletics a race distance of esp. 400 or 800 metres. middle ear the
cavity of the central part of the ear
behind the drum. the Middle
East the
area covered by countries from Egypt to Iran
inclusive. Middle
Eastern of or in the Middle East. Middle
English the English
language from c.1150 to 1500. middle
finger the finger
next to the
forefinger. middle game the central
phase of a
chess game,
when strategies are developed. middle
name 1 a person's name placed
after the
first name and
before the
surname. 2 a person's
most characteristic quality (sobriety is my middle name). middle-of-the-road (of a
person, course of action, etc.)
moderate; avoiding extremes. middle passage the
sea journey between W. Africa and the W.
Indies (with
ref. to the
slave trade). middle school Brit. a school for
children from about 9 to 13 years old. middle-sized of
medium size. Middle Temple
one of the two Inns of
Court on the
site of the Temple in London (cf.
Inner Temple). middle term
Logic the term common to
both premisses of a
syllogism. middle
watch the watch from
midnight to 4 a.m. middle
way 1 = middle course. 2 the
eightfold path of
Buddhism between
indulgence and asceticism. Middle West (in the US) the
region adjoining the
northern Mississippi. [OE middel f. Gmc]