minute

noun

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min·ute | \ ˈmi-nət

Definition of minute

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : the 60th part of an hour of time : 60 seconds

b : the 60th part of a degree of angular measure Its latitude is 41 degrees 55 minute north.

2 : the distance one can traverse in a minute Five minutes down the road is a gas station.

3 : a short space of time : moment Dinner will be ready in just a few minutes.

4a : a brief note (as of summary or recommendation) He received a minute of instructions.

b : memorandum, draft sent the president a minute explaining the problem

c minutes plural : the official record of the proceedings of a meeting The secretary read the minutes of the previous meeting.

minute

adjective

mi·nute | \ mī-ˈnüt

, mə-, -ˈnyüt \

minuter; minutest

Definition of minute (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : very small : infinitesimal

2 : of small importance : trifling

3 : marked by close attention to details

minute

verb

min·ute | \ ˈmi-nət

minuted; minuting

Definition of minute (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

: to make notes or a brief summary of

Other Words from minute Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about minute

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Choose the Right Synonym for minute

Adjective

small, little, diminutive, minute, tiny, miniature mean noticeably below average in size. small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number. a relatively small backyard little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity. your pathetic little smile diminutive implies abnormal smallness. diminutive bonsai plants minute implies extreme smallness. a minute amount of caffeine in the soda tiny is an informal equivalent to minute. tiny cracks formed in the painting miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale. a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

circumstantial, minute, particular, detailed mean dealing with a matter fully and usually point by point. circumstantial implies fullness of detail that fixes something described in time and space. a circumstantial account of our visit minute implies close and searching attention to the smallest details. a minute examination of a fossil particular implies a precise attention to every detail. a particular description of the scene of the crime detailed stresses abundance or completeness of detail. a detailed analysis of the event

Examples of minute in a Sentence

Noun Bake the cake for 25–30 minutes. We waited for several minutes, but no one came to the door. I saw him a minute ago. Dinner will be ready in just a few minutes. One minute it was sunny, the next it was pouring rain. My house is just a few minutes from here. The secretary read the minutes of the last meeting. Adjective There were minute particles of dust in the air. The test detected minute amounts of contamination. The equipment is able to detect the minutest errors. She told him what happened in minute detail. a minute examination of the evidence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The company was ordered by Hoffman to perform extra work to comply with last-minute design changes. — oregonlive, "Nike contractors file $100 million in liens over headquarters expansion," 7 Apr. 2021 Tensions within Jordan’s ruling family have been high since the late King Hussein bin Talal made the last-minute call to name his oldest son, Abdullah, his successor shortly before his death in 1999. — NBC News, "How Jordan's royal drama could threaten Middle East stability, as U.S. offers support," 5 Apr. 2021 There had been hints dropped in previous months about China reaching out to the U.S., but the last-minute invitation to the table tennis team was the first solid evidence the Nixon administration had that China was in fact interested in relations. — Tim Dahlberg, Star Tribune, "Column: Ping Pong Diplomacy resonates a half century later," 5 Apr. 2021 Brook Park City Council members received a shock at their March 30 budget meeting after Fire Chief Thomas Maund and Assistant Fire Chief Patrick Johnson announced a last-minute need for $325,000 to purchase fire fighter safety equipment. — Beth Mlady, cleveland, "Fire department surprises Brook Park council with last-minute $325,000 budget request," 3 Apr. 2021 Given how seismic Stabler’s departure was for the series and its devoted audience, his farewell is unceremonious — almost as if the producers were holding out hope for a last-minute contract resolution that never came to fruition. — Meredith Blake Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, "Before ‘Law & Order’ reunites Stabler and Benson, here’s where they left off," 1 Apr. 2021 While early voting starts April 6 for the May 4 primary, Hamilton County Board of Elections Director Sherry Poland said the last-minute changes won't delay ballots. — Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, "After Supreme Court order, final language for Issue 3 affordable housing amendment approved.," 31 Mar. 2021 The assists came from Peter Rosa and Brett Harris as Rice (15-4) kept the puck inside the Byron Center blueline following a last-minute face-off. — Brad Emons, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan high school hockey: Birmingham Brother Rice wins Division 2 in dramatic fashion," 27 Mar. 2021 On paper, Marie-Andrée is reduced to her desperation, Ajay to a few lines about his impoverished childhood, Herman to a last-minute monologue about his parents and World War II. — Judy Berman, Time, "Netflix’s Serial Killer Drama The Serpent Is Nihilistic Murder Porn in Prestige True-Crime Packaging," 26 Mar. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said the new equipment will allow the lab to detect minute amounts of fentanyl mixed into other drugs, along with other forms of the drug still being discovered. — Laura Schulte, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Crime Lab asking to tap $1 million from existing funds for new technology, scientists to combat uptick in fentanyl cases," 10 Mar. 2021 Animal products could cause contamination or disease, even in minute quantities, so manufacturers now use synthetic chemicals. — Rachana Pradhan, Fortune, "With billions spent and ‘wartime’ declared, why are vaccines still in short supply?," 23 Feb. 2021 Scientists have found that even minute amounts of many of the chemicals can be dangerous. — David Abel, BostonGlobe.com, "Firefighters may be wearing gear that contains toxic chemicals, researchers find," 5 Feb. 2021 During the heated, multi-minute exchange, Todd turned to ridicule when Johnson discussed investigating Trump’s allegations of voter fraud. — Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner, "Liberal Media Scream: Smug Chuck Todd to senator, ‘I’ve had enough of hearing this!’," 4 Jan. 2021 Their wide-ranging study has led them to defeat every existing chess player, translate over 100 languages, and probe the most minute mysteries of our biology. — Nicolás Rivero, Quartz, "Google showed us the danger of letting corporations lead AI research," 12 Dec. 2020 There is a third possibility: Novel tests available at some research labs that look for minute molecular evidence that the virus is still replicating in cells. — Marion Renault, Star Tribune, "Trump still contagious? Experts say it's impossible to know," 8 Oct. 2020 Hence the slow deliberation of the narratives and the minute internal details of the workings of a mind. — Hermione Lee, The New York Review of Books, "Sympathy for the Devil," 6 Oct. 2020 Johnson wants to understand those things to the most minute level. — Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, "Dario Franchitti on Jimmie Johnson's move to IndyCar: 'This isn’t some vanity project'," 26 Sep. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb That kind of dynamism where people are making the decisions minute to minute whether to work simply does not exist in the traditional employment framework. — Carolyn Said, SFChronicle.com, "Facing AB5, Uber’s Tony West discusses improving drivers’ lot," 11 July 2019 The turn of Slender-White’s head or the flick of Burns’ hand drew intense scrutiny, and the mind reeled at artists who would devote themselves to creating so minute a masterwork. — Claudia Bauer, San Francisco Chronicle, "2017 in review: a year of expanding boundaries in dance," 29 Dec. 2017 Hoffenheim came out the better in the second half and played some exceptional football in this match, however in the 62nd minute their good work was undone when defender Stefan Posch brought down Kagawa in the box, and Dortmund had a penalty. — SI.com, "Borussia Dortmund 2-1 TSG Hoffenheim: Late Christian Pulisic Strike Seals Hard-Fought Win for BVB," 16 Dec. 2017 It wasn't meant to be followed on a day to day, minute to minute basis. — Danielle Ofri, Slate Magazine, "Should Doctors Treat Trump Anxiety?," 19 Jan. 2017 A 1929 Mercedes-Benz S Barker Tourer took first prize overall at the annual event, winning top honors for its owner’s dedication to minute details of authenticity and provenance. — Hannah Elliott, Bloomberg.com, "Get Up Close and Personal With the World’s Top Classic Cars," 21 Aug. 2017 These include various breathing and visualization exercises, and also work with eye positions—based on the theory that different emotions correlate to minute variations in the direction of gaze. — Matthew Green, Newsweek, "A Radical New Therapy Could Treat the 'Untreatable' Victims of Trauma," 23 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'minute.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.