Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense mediates, present participle mediating, past tense, past participle mediated
1. verb
If someone mediatesbetween two groups of people, or mediates an agreement between them, they try to settle an argument between them by talking to both groups and trying to find things that they can both agree to.
My mom was the one who mediated between Zelda and her mom. [V + between]
United Nations officials have mediated a series of peace meetings between the twosides. [V n + between]
The Vatican successfully mediated in a territorial dispute between Argentina andChile in 1984. [VERB]
U.N. peacekeepers mediated a new cease-fire. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: intervene, moderate, step in [informal], intercede More Synonyms of mediate
mediation (miːdieɪʃən)uncountable noun
The agreement provides for United Nations mediation between the two sides. [+ between]
The two sides could reach a compromise through the mediation of a third party.
Synonyms: arbitration, intervention, reconciliation, conciliation More Synonyms of mediate
An archbishop has been acting as mediator between the rebels and the authorities. [+ between]
Synonyms: negotiator, arbitrator, judge, referee More Synonyms of mediate
2. verb
If something mediates a particular process or event, it allows that process or event to happen and influences the way in which it happens.
[formal]
...the thymus, the organ which mediates the response of the white blood cells. [VERB noun]
People's responses to us have been mediated by their past experience of life. [VERB noun]
mediationuncountable noun
This works through the mediation of the central nervous system.
mediate in British English
verb (ˈmiːdɪˌeɪt)
1. (intr; usually foll by between or in)
to intervene (between parties or in a dispute) in order to bring about agreement
2.
to bring about (an agreement)
3.
to bring about (an agreement) between parties in a dispute
4.
to resolve (differences) by mediation
5. (intransitive)
to be in a middle or intermediate position
6. (transitive)
to serve as a medium for causing (a result) or transferring (objects, information, etc)
adjective (ˈmiːdɪɪt)
7.
occurring as a result of or dependent upon mediation
8. a rare word for intermediate
9. logic
(of an inference) having more than one premise, esp, being syllogistic in form
Derived forms
mediately (ˈmediately)
adverb
mediateness (ˈmediateness)
noun
mediative (ˈmediative) or mediatory (ˈmediatory) or mediatorial (ˌmediaˈtorial)
adjective
mediator (ˈmediˌator)
noun
mediatorially (ˌmediaˈtorially)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Late Latin mediāre to be in the middle
mediate in American English
(ˈmidiˌeɪt; for adj., ˈmidiɪt)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈmediˌated or ˈmediˌating
1.
to be in an intermediate position or location
2.
to be an intermediary or conciliator between persons or sides
verb transitive
3.
a.
to settle by mediation
mediated the dispute
b.
to bring about by conciliation
mediated a settlement
4.
to be the medium for bringing about (a result), conveying (an object), communicating (information), etc.
adjective
5. Rare
intermediate or intervening
6.
dependent on, acting by, or connected through some intervening agency; related indirectly
Derived forms
mediately (ˈmediately)
adverb
mediator (ˈmediˌator)
noun
Word origin
< LL mediatus, pp. of mediare, to divide in the middle < L medius, middle: see mid1
Examples of 'mediate' in a sentence
mediate
Or, conversely, to mediate space to conform to the properties of each and every particle in it.
Tony Daniel METAPLANETARY (2001)
In other languages
mediate
British English: mediate VERB
If someone mediates between two groups of people, or mediates an agreement between them, they try to settle an argument between them by talking to both groups and trying to find things that they can both agree to.
My mother was the one who mediated between my friend and her mother.
American English: mediate
Brazilian Portuguese: mediar
Chinese: 调解
European Spanish: mediar
French: servir d'intermédiaire
German: vermitteln
Italian: mediare
Japanese: 仲裁する
Korean: 중재하다
European Portuguese: mediar
Latin American Spanish: mediar
Chinese translation of 'mediate'
mediate
(ˈmiːdɪeɪt)
vi
调(調)停 (tiáotíng)
(verb)
Definition
to intervene between people or in a dispute in order to bring about agreement
UN officials mediated between the two sides.
Synonyms
intervene
The situation calmed down when police intervened.
moderate
trying to moderate a quarrel between the two states
step in (informal)
If no agreement was reached, the army would step in.
intercede
She had occasionally tried to intercede for me.
settle
They agreed to try and settle their dispute by negotiation.
referee
He has refereed in two World Cups.
resolve
umpire
He umpired for school football matches.
reconcile
It is possible to reconcile these apparently opposing perspectives.
arbitrate
He arbitrates between investors and members of the association.
interpose
Police had to interpose themselves between the rival groups.
conciliate
She has conciliated in more than 600 unfair dismissal cases.
make peace
restore harmony
act as middleman
bring to terms
bring to an agreement
Additional synonyms
in the sense of arbitrate
Definition
to settle (a dispute) by arbitration
He arbitrates between investors and members of the association.
Synonyms
decide,
judge,
determine,
settle,
referee,
umpire,
mediate,
adjudicate,
adjudge,
pass judgment,
sit in judgment
in the sense of conciliate
She has conciliated in more than 600 unfair dismissal cases.
Synonyms
mediate,
intervene,
arbitrate,
interpose,
make the peace,
restore harmony,
pour oil on troubled waters,
clear the air,
act as middleman
in the sense of intercede
Definition
to act as a mediator in order to end a disagreement
She had occasionally tried to intercede for me.
Synonyms
mediate,
speak,
plead,
intervene,
arbitrate,
advocate,
interpose
Synonyms of 'mediate'
mediate
Explore 'mediate' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of interpose
Police had to interpose themselves between the rival groups.
Synonyms
intervene,
step in,
interfere,
intermediate,
mediate,
intrude,
intercede,
come or place between
in the sense of moderate
Definition
to preside over a meeting, discussion, etc.
trying to moderate a quarrel between the two states
Synonyms
arbitrate,
judge,
chair,
referee,
preside,
mediate,
take the chair
in the sense of reconcile
Definition
to make (two apparently conflicting things) compatible or consistent with each other
It is possible to reconcile these apparently opposing perspectives.
Synonyms
resolve,
settle,
square,
adjust,
compose,
rectify,
patch up,
harmonize,
put to rights
in the sense of referee
Definition
to act as a referee
He has refereed in two World Cups.
Synonyms
umpire,
judge,
mediate,
adjudicate,
arbitrate
in the sense of settle
Definition
to put in order
They agreed to try and settle their dispute by negotiation.
Synonyms
resolve,
work out,
remedy,
reconcile,
clear up,
put an end to,
iron out,
straighten out,
set to rights
in the sense of step in
Definition
to intervene (in a quarrel or difficult situation)
If no agreement was reached, the army would step in.