minute

¹min·ute

noun \ˈmi-nət\

Definition of MINUTE

1

a : the 60th part of an hour of time : 60 seconds b : the 60th part of a degree of angular measure

2

: the distance one can traverse in a minute

3

: a short space of time : moment

4

a : a brief note (as of summary or recommendation) b : memorandum, draft c plural : the official record of the proceedings of a meeting

Examples of MINUTE

1. Bake the cake for 25–30 minutes.
2. We waited for several minutes, but no one came to the door.
3. I saw him a minute ago.
4. Dinner will be ready in just a few minutes.
5. One minute it was sunny, the next it was pouring rain.
6. My house is just a few minutes from here.
7. The secretary read the minutes of the last meeting.

Origin of MINUTE

Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin minuta, from Latin minutus small, from past participle of minuere to lessen — more at minor

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to MINUTE

Synonyms: beat, eyeblink, flash, heartbeat, jiff, jiffy, instant, moment, nanosecond, New York minute, second, shake, split second, trice, twinkle, twinkling, wink

Related Words: microsecond; snatch, spurt

Near Antonyms: aeon (or eon), age, eternity, forever; infinity, lifetime

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Other Weights and Measures Terms

avoirdupois weight, calorie, denier, kip, pace, twain

Rhymes with MINUTE

linnet