middle

mid|dle1 [ `mıdl ] noun ***

1. ) the middle singular the part of something that is farthest from the sides, edges, or ends: CENTER:

in 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.

around the middle (of something): a diamond pattern around the middle of the ball

a ) 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.

2. ) count usually singular your waist and the part of your body around your waist:

Ben was holding a towel around his middle.

be caught/stuck in the middle

if you are caught or stuck in the middle of two people who are arguing, you feel as though you are expected to support both of them

divide/split something down the middle

1. ) to make a group of people divide into two opposing groups:

This issue has divided the Democratic Party down the middle.

2. ) to share something equally between two people or groups:

Let's split the work down the middle.

in the middle of (doing) something

busy doing something:

People always seem to call when we're in the middle of dinner.

He was in the middle of vacuuming when I arrived.

in the middle of nowhere

a long way from any town or city:

The car broke down in the middle of nowhere.

(somewhere) in the middle

1. ) in the position of not having a particular opinion but not having the opposite opinion either:

Some people adore her, and some hate her, and others are somewhere in the middle.

2. ) in the rank or position between the highest and the lowest

middle

mid|dle 2 [ `mıdl ] adjective ***

1. ) nearest to the center and having an equal number of people or things on each side:

The map's in the middle drawer.

the middle lane of the freeway

2. ) happening in the part between the beginning and the end of something, or the highest and lowest point of something:

The middle section of the book deals with training a dog.

middle-income families

a ) the middle 1950s/1980s etc. the years around 1955/1985 etc.:

By the middle 1990s, he had become a millionaire.

b ) in your middle 30s/40s etc. around 35/45 etc. in age:

a man in his middle 50s

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

middle child/daughter/brother etc.

the child, daughter, brother, etc. who is between the oldest and the youngest in age