Definition: media

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

media
     n : transmissions that are disseminated widely to the public
         [syn: mass media]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Media \Me"di*a\, n.,
   pl. of Medium.
Media \Me"di*a\, n.; pl. Medi[ae] (-[=e]). [NL., fr. L. medius
   middle.] (Phonetics)
   One of the sonant mutes [beta], [delta], [gamma] (b, d, g),
   in Greek, or of their equivalents in other languages, so
   named as intermediate between the tenues, [pi], [tau],
   [kappa] (p, t, k), and the aspirat[ae] (aspirates) [phi],
   [theta], [chi] (ph or f, th, ch). Also called middle mute,
   or medial, and sometimes soft mute.
Medium \Me"di*um\, n.; pl. L. Media, E. Mediums. [L.
   medium the middle, fr. medius middle. See Mid, and cf.
   Medius.]
   1. That which lies in the middle, or between other things;
      intervening body or quantity. Hence, specifically:
      (a) Middle place or degree; mean.

                The just medium . . . lies between pride and
                abjection.                        --L'Estrange.
      (b) (Math.) See Mean.
      (c) (Logic) The mean or middle term of a syllogism; that
          by which the extremes are brought into connection.

   2. A substance through which an effect is transmitted from
      one thing to another; as, air is the common medium of
      sound. Hence: The condition upon which any event or action
      occurs; necessary means of motion or action; that through
      or by which anything is accomplished, conveyed, or carried
      on; specifically, in animal magnetism, spiritualism, etc.,
      a person through whom the action of another being is said
      to be manifested and transmitted.

            Whether any other liquors, being made mediums, cause
            a diversity of sound from water, it may be tried.
                                                  --Bacon.

            I must bring together All these extremes; and must
            remove all mediums.                   --Denham.

   3. An average. [R.]

            A medium of six years of war, and six years of
            peace.                                --Burke.

   4. A trade name for printing and writing paper of certain
      sizes. See Paper.

   5. (Paint.) The liquid vehicle with which dry colors are
      ground and prepared for application.

   Circulating medium, a current medium of exchange, whether
      coin, bank notes, or government notes.

   Ethereal medium (Physics), the ether.

   Medium of exchange, that which is used for effecting an
      exchange of commodities -- money or current
      representatives of money.

Source: U.S. Gazetteer (1990) 

Media, IL (village, FIPS 48073)
  Location: 40.77266 N, 90.83396 W
  Population (1990): 146 (56 housing units)
  Area: 4.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
  Zip code(s): 61460
Media, PA (borough, FIPS 48480)
  Location: 39.91953 N, 75.38884 W
  Population (1990): 5957 (3023 housing units)
  Area: 1.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Source: Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) 

Media, measure; habit; covering

Source: Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary 

Media
   Heb. Madai, which is rendered in the Authorized Version (1)
   "Madai," Gen. 10:2; (2) "Medes," 2 Kings 17:6; 18:11; (3)
   "Media," Esther 1:3; 10:2; Isa. 21:2; Dan. 8:20; (4) "Mede,"
   only in Dan. 11:1.
   
     We first hear of this people in the Assyrian cuneiform
   records, under the name of Amada, about B.C. 840. They appear to
   have been a branch of the Aryans, who came from the east bank of
   the Indus, and were probably the predominant race for a while in
   the Mesopotamian valley. They consisted for three or four
   centuries of a number of tribes, each ruled by its own chief,
   who at length were brought under the Assyrian yoke (2 Kings
   17:6). From this subjection they achieved deliverance, and
   formed themselves into an empire under Cyaxares (B.C. 633). This
   monarch entered into an alliance with the king of Babylon, and
   invaded Assyria, capturing and destroying the city of Nineveh
   (B.C. 625), thus putting an end to the Assyrian monarchy (Nah.
   1:8; 2:5,6; 3:13, 14).
   
     Media now rose to a place of great power, vastly extending its
   boundaries. But it did not long exist as an independent kingdom.
   It rose with Cyaxares, its first king, and it passed away with
   him; for during the reign of his son and successor Astyages, the
   Persians waged war against the Medes and conquered them, the two
   nations being united under one monarch, Cyrus the Persian (B.C.
   558).
   
     The "cities of the Medes" are first mentioned in connection
   with the deportation of the Israelites on the destruction of
   Samaria (2 Kings 17:6; 18:11). Soon afterwards Isaiah (13:17;
   21:2) speaks of the part taken by the Medes in the destruction
   of Babylon (comp. Jer. 51:11, 28). Daniel gives an account of
   the reign of Darius the Mede, who was made viceroy by Cyrus
   (Dan. 6:1-28). The decree of Cyrus, Ezra informs us (6:2-5), was
   found in "the palace that is in the province of the Medes,"
   Achmetha or Ecbatana of the Greeks, which is the only Median
   city mentioned in Scripture.