middle
noun (the middle, middles); adjective (middle)
Everyday
- The middle is the part that is halfway between the two ends or sides. In a row of three, the middle one is the second. tree →
- The middle of a time is the part between its start and end: the middle of the night. tree →
- Middle as an adjective means in the centre: the middle finger, the middle child. tree →
- «In the middle of doing something» means busy doing it now. tree →
- Middle can also mean medium, neither loud nor quiet, as in a middle voice. tree →
In the lessons
a place in a row, line or shape; sometimes the middle number of a list (the median), or the middle step of a story (beginning, middle, end); phrases «in the middle», «middle school», «middle name», «the Middle Ages»
Examples
- Tom stands in the middle of the line. tree →
- Cut the ribbon in the middle. tree →
- There are 4 people on each side of the one in the middle. tree →
- What is the middle number of 3, 7 and 9? tree →
- I woke up in the middle of the night. tree →
- She is the middle child of three. tree →
- My middle name is James. tree →
- Sorry, I'm in the middle of my homework. tree →
- said the Middle Bear in his middle voice. tree →
Note
«In the middle» of a line often means equal numbers on both sides, so total = 2 × side + 1. Cutting «in the middle» gives two equal halves. Trap: do not forget to count the middle one itself. The middle number of an ordered list is the median; with an even count there are two middle numbers.
In Jewish tradition
The middle bar of the Tabernacle's frame ran through the centre of the boards, holding them together. The "middle of the valley" marks a border.
Interpretation. The Talmud and commentators discuss how the middle bar was fitted, some saying it was a miraculous single beam. Tradition often values the middle as a place of balance.
Examples
- and the middle bar in the midst of the boards, which shall pass through from end to end. (Torah EXO.26.28, JPS 1917) tree →
- And he made the middle bar to pass through in the midst of the boards from the one end to the other. (Torah EXO.36.33, JPS 1917) tree →
- And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead even unto the valley of Arnon, the middle of the valley for a border; even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon; (Torah DEU.3.16, JPS 1917) tree →
- So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their hips, and sent them away. (Writings 1CH.19.4, JPS 1917) tree →
- And Gaal spoke again and said: 'See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company cometh by the way of Elon-meonenim.' (Prophets JDG.9.37, JPS 1917) tree →
- So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away. (Prophets 2SA.10.4, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
«In the middle» of a line often means equal numbers on both sides, so total = 2 × side + 1. Cutting «in the middle» gives two equal halves. Trap: do not forget to count the middle one itself. The middle number of an ordered list is the median; with an even count there are two middle numbers.
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «middle» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «middle» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «middle» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «middle» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/middle/