middle

adjective

UK /ˈmɪd(ə)l/

1
nearest the centre and with an equal number of people or things on each side
The map’s in the middle drawer.
the middle lane of the motorway
Synonyms and related words
In the middle or to the left or right
astride
central
centrality
2
happening in the part between the beginning and the end of something, or between the highest and lowest point of something
The middle section of the book deals with training a dog.
middle-income families
Synonyms and related words
In the middle or to the left or right
astride
central
centrality
3
a middle way of doing something is a way of doing it that is not as extreme as two other ways of doing it
Synonyms and related words
Ordinary and normal
BAU
identikit
normal

phrases

middle child/daughter/brother etc

in your middle 30s/40s etc

the middle 1950s/1980s etc

middle

adjective

US /ˈmɪd(ə)l/

1
nearest to the center and with an equal number of people or things on each side
The map’s in the middle drawer.
the middle lane of the freeway
Synonyms and related words
In the middle or to the left or right
astride
central
centrality
2
happening in the part between the beginning and the end of something, or between the highest and lowest point of something
The middle section of the book deals with training a dog.
middle-income families
Synonyms and related words
In the middle or to the left or right
astride
central
centrality
3
a middle way of doing something is a way of doing it that is not as extreme as two other ways of doing it
Synonyms and related words
Ordinary and normal
BAU
identikit
normal

phrases

in your middle 30s/40s etc.

middle child/daughter/brother etc.

the middle 1950s/1980s etc.

middle

noun

UK /ˈmɪd(ə)l/

Word Forms

singular	middle
plural	middles

1

the middle
the part of something that is furthest from the sides, edges, or ends
middle ofin the middle (of something):
There was a large cat sitting in the middle of the road.
into the middle (of something):
Katy threw the stone into the middle of the pond.
down/through the middle:
a sheet with a blue stripe down the middle
in the middle:
The cake was still frozen in the middle.
right/(slap) bang/smack in the middle of something (=exactly in the middle of something):
They’ve put a horrible statue smack in the middle of the courtyard.
Synonyms and related words
The central parts of objects or spaces
the middle
centre
core
1. 1a
  
  the middle
  the part that is between the beginning and the end of a period of time or an event
  middle of:
  the middle of the 15th century
  in the middle of something:
  Why are you creeping about in the middle of the night?
  He fell asleep in the middle of the film.
  Synonyms and related words
  Individual stages of events and processes
  episode
  gradation
  in/during the heat of something
2
countable usually singularyour waist and the part of your body around your waist
Ben was holding a towel around his middle.
Synonyms and related words
Other parts of the body from the outside
abdomen
back
belly

phrases

be (caught/stuck) in the middle

divide/split something down the middle

in the middle of (doing) something

in the middle of nowhere

(somewhere) in the middle

middle

noun

US /ˈmɪd(ə)l/

Word Forms

singular	middle
plural	middles

1

the middle
the part of something that is farthest from the sides, edges, or ends
middle ofin the middle (of something):
There was a cat sitting in the middle of the road.
in the middle:
The cake was still frozen in the middle.
down/through the middle:
a sheet with a blue stripe down the middle
into the middle (of something):
I threw the stone into the middle of the pond.
right/(slap) bang/smack in the middle of something (=exactly in the middle of something):
They’ve put a horrible statue smack in the middle of their front yard.
Synonyms and related words
The central parts of objects or spaces
the middle
center
core
1. 1a
  
  the middle
  the part that is between the beginning and the end of a period of time or an event
  middle of:
  the middle of the 15th century
  in the middle of something:
  Why are you sneaking around in the middle of the night?
  He fell asleep in the middle of the movie.
  Synonyms and related words
  Individual stages of events and processes
  episode
  gradation
  in/during the heat of something
2
countable usually singularyour waist and the part of your body around your waist
Ben was holding a towel around his middle.
Synonyms and related words
Other parts of the body from the outside
abdomen
back
belly

phrases

be (caught/stuck) in the middle

divide/split something down the middle

in the middle of (doing) something

in the middle of nowhere

(somewhere) in the middle

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