1. being in between: lying or occurring between two different forms, states, points, or extremes an intermediate course
2. geology containing between 55 percent and 66 percent silica: describes an igneous rock with a silica content of between 55 percent and 66 percent
noun (pluralin·ter·me·di·ates)
Definition:
1. something between two other things: something that lies or occurs between two different forms, states, points, or extremes
2. Same as intermediaryn (sense 1)
3. chemistry chemical for further reactions: a chemical compound that is formed during a chemical reaction and is used in another reaction to obtain another compound
4. chemistry short-lived chemical component: a molecule, ion, or free radical that exists for a short time during a chemical reaction
[15th century. Directly or via French< medieval Latin intermediatus< Latin intermedius< medius "middle"]