middle
/ˈmɪdl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɪdl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmi-dᵊl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈmɪd.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɪd.əl/ (ame, ipa)
middle — noun
1. the central part of a space, equally far from all edges or sides; also the halfw
the central part of a space, equally far from all edges or sides; also the halfway period of an event measured from start to finish.
Vivek placed the vase in the middle of the dining table.
in the middle of [space]
The road has a white line painted down the middle.
down the middle
Ari woke up twice in the middle of the night.
A cat suddenly ran into the middle of the street.
The film drags a bit in the middle but the ending is exciting.
文法句型
the middle of [something]
用法筆記
Often follows the preposition 'in' or 'down'. When referring to time, the phrase 'in the middle of' is commonly used to mean 'during'.
常見錯誤
2. the part of a person's body around the waist, between the ribs and the hips.
the part of a person's body around the waist, between the ribs and the hips.
Felipe wrapped a towel around his middle after getting out of the pool.
possessive + middle
Nia tied a colourful scarf around her middle to brighten up the dress.
The belt was a little too tight around his middle after the big meal.
Élise felt a sharp pain in her middle and went to see a doctor.
文法句型
[possessive] middle
用法筆記
This use of 'middle' is slightly informal compared to 'waist'. It is common in everyday conversation, especially when referring to body size ('a large middle') or clothing fit.
常見錯誤
3. a level or position that is between two extremes — not too much of one quality a
a level or position that is between two extremes — not too much of one quality and not too much of another.
Christopher tries to find a middle between saving money and enjoying life.
a middle between A and B
The apartment is a happy middle between a studio and a large family flat.
In the debate, Jin argued for a middle that neither side would reject.
The price is somewhere in the middle of the two offers we received.
- midpoint
more numerical or mathematical; less flexible for opinions or qualities
- mean
formal and technical; used in statistics or formal reasoning
- compromise
implies an active agreement between two sides, not just a position between them
文法句型
the middle between [two extremes]
用法筆記
Frequently used in fixed phrases such as 'a/the middle ground' and 'the middle of the road'. This sense is common in discussion about opinions, prices, and levels.
middle — adjective
1. at an equal distance from the sides, edges, or ends of something; in the centre.
at an equal distance from the sides, edges, or ends of something; in the centre.
Jin lives in the middle apartment on the third floor.
middle + noun (position)
The middle shelf is the easiest to reach for a short person.
Our seats were in the middle row, so we had a good view of the stage.
Nia always takes the middle seat when the three of us travel together.
文法句型
middle + [noun]
用法筆記
Used only before a noun (attributive position). You cannot say 'this seat is middle' — use 'central' instead.
常見錯誤
2. positioned between the top and bottom of a scale; not at an extreme in terms of
positioned between the top and bottom of a scale; not at an extreme in terms of size, rank, importance, or amount.
Vivek comes from a middle-income family and works part-time to pay for college.
middle-income family
The restaurant charges middle-range prices for fairly good food.
Ari is a middle-level manager at a publishing company in Taipei.
Amira bought a handbag of middle quality — not the cheapest, not the finest.
The school accepts students of middle ability who are willing to work hard.
文法句型
middle + [abstract noun]
用法筆記
Common in compound adjectives: 'middle-class', 'middle-income', 'middle-level', 'middle-range'. These describe social, economic, or quality categories.
常見錯誤
3. born after at least one older sibling and before at least one younger sibling; p
born after at least one older sibling and before at least one younger sibling; positioned in the middle of a family's birth order.
As the middle child, Christopher often felt he had to work harder for attention.
middle child — birth-order sense
Felipe is the middle son — his older brother is a doctor and his younger sister is still in school.
Élise says being a middle sister taught her how to negotiate between people.
There were five of us, and I was the middle daughter, always sharing a room.
- second-born
more precise for a family with three children; 'middle child' works for families of any size with at least three children
文法句型
middle + child/son/daughter/brother/sister
用法筆記
Only used with family-role nouns: 'child', 'son', 'daughter', 'brother', 'sister'. 'Middle child syndrome' is a common informal term for the idea that middle children feel overlooked.
4. relating to a historical phase of a language that came after the earliest record
relating to a historical phase of a language that came after the earliest recorded version but before the version spoken today.
Students of English literature sometimes have to read Chaucer in the original Middle English.
Middle English — language period
Middle Chinese had a complex system of tones that later simplified.
The library has a rare copy of a poem written in Middle French.
Middle Korean is studied mainly through texts from the 15th century.
文法句型
Middle + [Language Name]
用法筆記
Always capitalised when paired with a language name: 'Middle English', 'Middle French', 'Middle Korean'. This is a technical term used in linguistics and literary history.