middle

Less common meanings

4. 4
   political centernoununcountable

   The political views that sit between the left and the right.

   Like standing in the center of a seesaw, not leaning to either side.

   Many voters stay in the middle and dislike extremes.

   He campaigned from the middle to win over both sides.

   UsageSay the middle: move toward the middle.

   Similarcenter, mainstream

   Note
5. 5
   clean hit (cricket)verbtransitive

   In cricket, to hit the ball with the center of the bat.

   Like hitting a baseball right on the sweet spot of the bat.

   She middled the ball perfectly and it flew over the fence.

   Try to middle the ball and send it over the boundary.

   Oppositeedge, mistime

   Note
6. 6
   center stumpnoununcountable

   In cricket, the center stump of the three behind the batter.

   The bowler's fast ball hit middle and knocked the bails off.

   The fast ball knocked over middle and ended the innings.

   Note
7. 7
   verbobsoletetransitive

   To fold a rope in half into two equal parts.

   Note
8. 8
   verbobsoletetransitive

   To take a position halfway between two sides on a question.

   And now, to middle the matter between both, it is pity, that the man they favour has not that sort of merit which a person of a mind so delicate as that of Miss Harlowe might reasonably expect in a husband.

   1748, [Samuel Richardson], ClarissaHere, middle means take a middle view, halfway between the two sides.

   Note
9. 9
   noun

   In grammar, a verb form between active and passive, where the subject also acts on or for itself.
10. 10
    adjective

    In grammar, having to do with the middle voice.