minute

verb

min·​ute ˈmi-nət How to pronounce minute (audio)
minuted; minuting
Synonyms of minutenext

transitive verb

: to make notes or a brief summary of

Word History

Etymology
First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of minute was in 1601

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Minute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minute. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

minute

1 of 2 noun
min·​ute ˈmin-ət How to pronounce minute (audio)
1
a
: the 60th part of an hour of time
b
: the 60th part of a degree of angular measure
2
: the distance one can cover in a minute
3
4
plural : a brief record of what went on in a meeting

minute

2 of 2 adjective
mi·​nute
mī-ˈn(y)üt
mə-
1
: very small : tiny
2
: of small importance : petty
3
: marked by close attention to details
minutely adverb
minuteness noun
Etymology

Middle English minute "1/60 part of an hour," from early French minute (same meaning), from Latin minuta (same meaning), from minutus "small" — related to menu see Word History at menu

Medical Definition

minute

noun
min·​ute ˈmin-ət How to pronounce minute (audio)
: a 60th part of an hour of time or of a degree

Legal Definition

minute

noun
min·​ute ˈmi-nət How to pronounce minute (audio)
1
: a brief note (as of summary or recommendation)
2
3
plural : the official record of the proceedings of a meeting or court

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