major

1. 1

   Greater in dignity, rank, importance, significance, or interest.attributive

   • The US supreme court has ruled unanimously that natural human genes cannot be patented, a decision that scientists and civil rights campaigners said removed a major barrier to patient care and medical innovation.
2. 2

   Greater in number, quantity, or extent.attributive

   • the major part of the assembly
   • The three major religions are Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.
3. 3

   Notable or conspicuous in effect or scope.attributive

   • The building underwent a major renovation.
4. 4

   Prominent or significant in size, amount, or degree.attributive

   • to earn some major cash
   • a major exhibition
5. 5

   Involving great risk, serious, life-threatening.attributive

   • to suffer from a major illness
6. 6

   Of full legal age, having attained majority.

   • major children
7. 7

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

8. 8

   Having intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees. (of a scale)

   • major scale
9. 9

   Equivalent to that between the tonic and another note of a major scale, and greater by a semitone than the corresponding minor interval. (of an interval)

   • major third
10. 10

    Equivalent to that between the tonic and another note of a major scale, and greater by a semitone than the corresponding minor interval. (of an interval); Having a major third above the root.

    • major triad

ant. minor

1. 1

   A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, between captain and lieutenant colonel.

   • He used to be a major in the army.
2. 2

   A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, between captain and lieutenant colonel.; An officer in charge of a section of band instruments, used with a modifier.

3. 3

   A person of legal age.

4. 4

   Ellipsis of major key.abbreviationalt-ofellipsis

5. 5

   Ellipsis of major interval.abbreviationalt-ofellipsis

6. 6

   Ellipsis of major scale.abbreviationalt-ofellipsis

7. 7

   A system of change-ringing using eight bells.

8. 8

   A large, commercially successful company, especially a record label that is bigger than an indie.

   • At the end of last year, the band re-signed to XL for another three albums, despite being chased by majors that included Island, says manager Mike Champion of Midi Management.
9. 9

   The principal subject or course of a student working toward a degree at a college or university.AustraliaCanadaNew-Zealand

   • Midway through his second year of college, he still hadn't chosen a major.
10. 10

    The principal subject or course of a student working toward a degree at a college or university.; A student at a college or university specializing on a given area of study.AustraliaCanadaNew-Zealand

    • She is a math major.

1. 1

   Used in a phrasal verb: major in.intransitive