major

¹ma·jor

adjective \ˈmā-jər\

Definition of MAJOR

1

: greater in dignity, rank, importance, or interest <one of the major poets>

2

: greater in number, quantity, or extent <the major part of his work>

3

: having attained majority

4

a : notable or conspicuous in effect or scope : considerable <a major improvement>

b : prominent or significant in size, amount, or degree <earned some major cash>

5

: involving grave risk : serious <a major illness>

6

: of or relating to a subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization

7

a : having half steps between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth degrees <major scale>

b : based on a major scale <major key>

c : equivalent to the distance between the keynote and another tone (except the fourth and fifth) of a major scale <major third>

d : having a major third above the root <major triad>

Examples of MAJOR

1. He's one of the major figures in 19th-century U.S. history.
2. Researchers have announced a major advance in the treatment of cancer.
3. She played a major role in the negotiations.
4. No major changes are expected.
5. The grant covered a major part of the cost.
6. Butter is one of the major ingredients in the recipe.
7. None of his health problems are major.
8. He suffered a major heart attack.

Origin of MAJOR

Middle English maiour, from Latin major, comparative of magnus great, large — more at much

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to MAJOR

Synonyms

biggish, good, goodly, handsome, healthy, largish, considerable, respectable, significant, sizable (or sizeable), substantial, substantive, tidy

Antonyms

inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, insubstantial, negligible, nominal

Related Words

big, bulky, hefty, hulking, outsize (also outsized), oversize (or oversized), voluminous; astronomical (also astronomic), bumper, colossal, elephantine, enormous, gigantic, great, herculean, huge, immense, jumbo, king-size (or king-sized), mammoth, massive, monstrous, monumental, prodigious, titanic, tremendous, whopping

Near Antonyms

measly, minute, paltry, petty, picayune, picayunish, piddling, puny, trifling, trivial, unimportant; marginal, meager (or meagre), slight; little, small, tiny, undersized (also undersize); bitty, diminutive, miniature, pint-size (or pint-sized), pocket, pocket-size (also pocket-sized), pygmy, smallish

Rhymes with MAJOR

gauger, Major, pager, stager, wager

²major

noun

Definition of MAJOR

1

: a person who has attained majority

2

a : one that is superior in rank, importance, size, or performance <economic power of the oil majors>

b : a major musical interval, scale, key, or mode

3

: a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps ranking above a captain and below a lieutenant colonel

4

a : an academic subject chosen as a field of specialization

b : a student specializing in such a field <a history major>

5

plural : major league baseball —used with the

6

: any of several high-level tournaments in professional golf

Examples of MAJOR

1. He chose history as his major and French as his minor.
2. What was your major in college?
3. In college, he was a history major.
4. a club for physics majors

First Known Use of MAJOR

1616

³major

intransitive verb

Definition of MAJOR

: to pursue an academic major <majored in English>

First Known Use of MAJOR

1913

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

Ma·jor

biographical name \ˈmā-jər\

Definition of MAJOR

Sir John 1943–     British prime min. (1990–97)

Rhymes with MAJOR

gauger, major, pager, stager, wager

ma·jor

adjective \ˈmā-jər\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of MAJOR

: involving grave risk : serious <a major illness> <a major surgical procedure>—compare minor