medium
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medium
A means of spreading information and content, especially the mass media such as television, radio, newspapers, and the internet.
Das Internet hat sich zu einem wichtigen Medium für politische Diskussionen entwickelt.
The internet has developed into an important medium for political discussions.
'Medium' comes from Latin and means 'middle' or 'center'. This origin explains why the word is used for things that mediate or stand in the middle, such as mass media, which convey information.
Die Zeitung dient als klassisches Medium zur Informationsvermittlung.
The newspaper serves as a classic medium for conveying information.
When referring to mass media, the plural form 'die Medien' (the media) is almost always used. In this context, the singular 'das Medium' (the medium) refers only to one individual means, e.g. a specific newspaper.
Die Medien haben ausführlich über das Ereignis berichtet.
The media reported extensively on the event.
In gastronomy, 'medium' is used as an invariable adjective or adverb to describe how cooked meat is. It usually comes after the noun and is not declined.
Einmal das Rinderfilet, aber bitte nur medium gebraten.
One beef fillet, but cooked only medium, please.
In science, 'Medium' (medium) is a technical term for a substance through which something is transmitted. You can recognize this meaning from typical words from physics or chemistry such as 'Schall' (sound), 'Licht' (light), or 'Flüssigkeit' (liquid).
Wasser ist ein anderes Medium für Licht als Luft.
Water is a different medium for light than air.
In the context of mass communication, fixed terms such as 'soziale Medien' (social media, e.g. Instagram, Facebook), 'digitale Medien' (digital media), and 'klassische Medien' (traditional media, e.g. print, radio) are very common.
Viele junge Leute informieren sich hauptsächlich über soziale Medien.
Many young people get their information mainly through social media.
The meaning of a spiritual person is rather rare. You can clearly recognize it from the context when supernatural topics such as ghosts, the afterlife, or fortune-telling are involved.
In dem alten Film versucht ein Medium, Kontakt zu den Geistern des Hauses aufzunehmen.
In the old film, a medium tries to contact the ghosts of the house.
through / by
'durch' and 'das Medium' can both have to do with a means or a path, but they have different roles. 'durch' is a preposition and shows by what means or through which route something happens: 'durch das Internet' (through the internet), 'durch ein Gespräch' (through a conversation), 'durch Wärme' (through heat). 'das Medium' is a noun and names the means itself, for example television, the internet, a material, or, in science, an environment. So the contrast is mainly in function: 'durch' connects the action with the means, while 'das Medium' names that means. Learners may confuse them because 'Medium' sometimes means something through which information or forces are transmitted.
Für ihr Referat wählt Laura das Internet als wichtiges Medium.
For her presentation, Laura chooses the internet as an important medium.
Viele Menschen informieren sich heute durch das Internet.
Many people today get information through the internet.