Dictionary
1media
noun me·dia \ˈmē-dē-ə\
plural me·di·ae \-dē-ˌē\
Definition of MEDIA
1
[Late Latin, from Latin, feminine of medius; from the voiced stops' being regarded as intermediate between the tenues and the aspirates] : a voiced stop
2
[New Latin, from Latin] : the middle coat of the wall of a blood or lymph vessel consisting chiefly of circular muscle fibers
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First Known Use of MEDIA
1841
Rhymes with MEDIA
2media
noun, often attributive
plural me·di·as
Definition of MEDIA
2
a singular or plural in construction : mass media b plural : members of the mass media
Usage Discussion of MEDIA
The singular media and its plural medias seem to have originated in the field of advertising over 70 years ago; they are still so used without stigma in that specialized field. In most other applications media is used as a plural of medium. The popularity of the word in references to the agencies of mass communication is leading to the formation of a mass noun, construed as a singular <there's no basis for it. You know, the news media gets on to something — Edwin Meese 3d> <the media is less interested in the party's policies — James Lewis, Guardian Weekly>. This use is not as well established as the mass-noun use of data and is likely to incur criticism especially in writing.
Origin of MEDIA
plural of medium
First Known Use: 1923
Media
geographical name Me·dia \ˈmē-dē-ə\
Definition of MEDIA
ancient country & province of Persian Empire SW Asia in NW modern Iran
— Me·di·an \-dē-ən\ adjective or noun
Rhymes with MEDIA
MEDIAS Defined for Kids
media
noun me·dia \ˈmē-dē-ə\
Definition of MEDIA for Kids
: the system and organizations of communication through which information is spread to a large number of people Hint:Media can be used as a singular or a plural in writing and speaking.
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