media
UK: ˈmiːdiə | US: ˈmiːdiə
n. 1. The main means of mass communication (e.g., television, newspapers, internet).
n. 2. A plural form of medium, referring to intervening substances or channels.
n. 3. (Biology) A nutrient-rich substance for cultivating microorganisms.
media = med<middle> + ia<plural noun suffix>
- med (from Latin medius, meaning "middle")
- ia (Latin plural suffix for neuter nouns, indicating collective or multiple forms)
Etymology Origin:
Derived from Latin medium (neutral singular) meaning "middle layer" or "intervening substance," media evolved to denote channels (e.g., air, paper) that "stand between" communicators and audiences. By the 1920s, it expanded to collective mass communication tools. The biological sense (nutrient media) reflects its role as an intermediary environment for growth.
Social media has transformed global communication.
The bacteria thrived in the nutrient media.
Traditional media like newspapers face declining readership.
Light travels through the medium of air.
The artist experimented with mixed media in her paintings.