3 N‑COUNT A mechanism is a part of your behaviour that is automatic and that helps you to survive or to cope with a difficult situation. □ …a survival mechanism, a means of coping with intolerable stress.
4 → see also defence mechanism SYNONYMS mechanism NOUN 1
workings: These computer systems mimic the workings of the brain.
motor: She got in and started the motor.
machinery: Farmers import most of their machinery and materials.
mecha|nis|tic /me kən I st I k/ ADJ If you describe a view or explanation of something as mechanistic , you are criticizing it because it describes a natural or social process as if it were a machine. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a mechanistic view of things that ignores the emotional realities in people's lives. □ Most of my colleagues in biology are still very mechanistic in their thinking.
mecha|nize /me kəna I z/ (mechanizes , mechanizing , mechanized ) in BRIT, also use mechanise VERB If someone mechanizes a process, they cause it to be done by a machine or machines, when it was previously done by people. □ [V n] Only gradually are technologies being developed to mechanize the task. ● mecha|nized ADJ □ …highly mechanised production methods. ● mecha|ni|za|tion /me kəna I ze I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ Mechanization happened years ago on the farms of Islay.
med|al ◆◇◇ /me d ə l/ (medals ) N‑COUNT A medal is a small metal disc which is given as an award for bravery or as a prize in a sporting event.
me|dal|lion /m I dæ liən/ (medallions ) N‑COUNT A medallion is a round metal disc which some people wear as an ornament, especially on a chain round their neck.
med|al|list /me dəl I st/ (medallists ) N‑COUNT A medallist is a person who has won a medal in sport. [JOURNALISM ] □ …the gold medallists.
med|dle /me d ə l/ (meddles , meddling , meddled ) VERB If you say that someone meddles in something, you are criticizing the fact that they try to influence or change it without being asked. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V + in/with ] Already some people are asking whether scientists have any right to meddle in such matters. □ [V ] If only you hadn't felt compelled to meddle. □ [V -ing] …the inept and meddling bureaucrats. ● med|dler (meddlers ) N‑COUNT □ They view activists as little more than meddlers.
med|dle|some /me d ə lsəm/ ADJ If you describe a person as meddlesome , you are criticizing them because they try to influence or change things that do not concern them. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a meddlesome member of the public.
me|dia ◆◆◇ /miː diə/
1 N‑SING [with sing or pl verb] You can refer to television, radio, newspapers, and magazines as the media . □ It is hard work and not a glamorous job as portrayed by the media. □ …bias in the news media. □ Media coverage of cycling in July was pretty impressive.
2 → see also mass media , multimedia
3 Media is a plural of medium .
me |dia ci r|cus (media circuses ) N‑COUNT If an event is described as a media circus , a large group of people from the media is there to report on it and take photographs. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ The couple married in the Caribbean to avoid a media circus.
me|di|aeval /me diiː v ə l, [AM ] miː d-/ → see medieval
me|dian /miː diən/ (medians )
1 ADJ [ADJ n] The median value of a set of values is the middle one when they are arranged in order. For example, if a group of five students take a test and their marks are 5, 7, 7, 8, and 10, the median mark is 7. [TECHNICAL ]
2 N‑COUNT A median is the same as a median strip . [AM ]
me |dian strip (median strips ) N‑COUNT The median strip is the strip of ground, often covered with grass, that separates the two sides of a major road. [AM ] in BRIT, use central reservation
me|di|ate /miː die I t/ (mediates , mediating , mediated )
1 VERB If someone mediates between two groups of people, or mediates an agreement between them, they try to settle an argument between them by talking to both groups and trying to find things that they can both agree to. □ [V + between ] My mom was the one who mediated between Zelda and her mom. □ [V n + between ] United Nations officials have mediated a series of peace meetings between the two sides. □ [V ] The Vatican successfully mediated in a territorial dispute between Argentina and Chile in 1984. □ [V n] U.N. peacekeepers mediated a new cease-fire. ● me|dia|tion /miː die I ʃ ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ between ] The agreement provides for United Nations mediation between the two sides. ● me|dia|tor (mediators ) N‑COUNT □ [+ between ] An archbishop has been acting as mediator between the rebels and the authorities.
2 VERB If something mediates a particular process or event, it allows that process or event to happen and influences the way in which it happens. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] …the thymus, the organ which mediates the response of the white blood cells. ● me|dia|tion N‑UNCOUNT □ This works through the mediation of the central nervous system.
med|ic /me d I k/ (medics )
1 N‑COUNT A medic is a doctor or medical student. [INFORMAL ]
2 N‑COUNT A medic is a doctor who works with the armed forces, as part of a medical corps. [AM ] □ A Navy medic was wounded by sniper fire.
medi|cal ◆◆◇ /me d I k ə l/ (medicals )