MAJOR Definition & Meaning

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major

[ mey-jer ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a commissioned military officer ranking next below a lieutenant colonel and next above a captain.
one of superior rank, ability, etc., in a specified class.
Education.
1. a subject or field of study chosen by a student to represent their principal interest and upon which a large share of their efforts are concentrated:
  History was my major in college.
2. a student engaged in such study.
a person of full legal age ( minor ).
Music. a major interval, chord, scale, etc.
the majors,
1. Sports. the major leagues: major league:
  He coached in the majors as well as in the minors.
2. the companies or organizations that lead or control a particular field of activity:
  the oil majors.

adjective

greater in size, extent, or importance:
the major part of the town.
great, as in rank or importance: a major artist.
a major political issue;
a major artist.
serious or risky:
a major operation.
of or relating to the majority:
the major opinion.
of full legal age.
Music.
1. (of an interval) being between the tonic and the second, third, sixth, or seventh degrees of a major scale: a major sixth.
  a major third;
  a major sixth.
2. (of a chord) having a major third between the root and the note next above it.
pertaining to the subject in which a student takes the most courses:
Her major field is English history.
(initial capital letter) (of one of two male students in an English public school who have the same surname) being the elder or higher in standing:
Hobbes Major is not of a scientific bent.

verb (used without object)

to follow a major course of study:
He is majoring in physics.

Major

[ mey-jer ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Clarence, born 1936, U.S. novelist and poet.
John, born 1943, British political leader: prime minister 1990–97.

major

/ ˈ��ɪ��ə /

noun

military an officer immediately junior to a lieutenant colonel
a person who is superior in a group or class
a large or important company
the oil majors
often preceded by the music a major key, chord, mode, or scale
1. the principal field of study of a student at a university, etc
  his major is sociology
2. a student who is studying a particular subject as his principal field
  a sociology major
a person who has reached the age of legal majority
logic a major term or premise
a principal or important record company, film company, etc
the majors
plural the major leagues

adjective

larger in extent, number, etc
the major part
of greater importance or priority
very serious or significant
a major disaster
main, chief, or principal
of, involving, or making up a majority
music
1. (of a scale or mode) having notes separated by the interval of a whole tone, except for the third and fourth degrees, and seventh and eighth degrees, which are separated by a semitone
2. relating to or employing notes from the major scale
  a major key
3. postpositive denoting a specified key or scale as being major
  C major
4. denoting a chord or triad having a major third above the root
5. (in jazz) denoting a major chord with a major seventh added above the root
logic constituting the major term or major premise of a syllogism
of or relating to a student's principal field of study at a university, etc
the elder: used after a schoolboy's surname if he has one or more younger brothers in the same school
Price major
of full legal age
postpositive Leisure:Bell-ringing of, relating to, or denoting a method rung on eight bells

verb

intrusually foll byin to do one's principal study (in a particular subject)
to major in English literature
intrusually foll byon to take or deal with as the main area of interest
the book majors on the peasant dishes

Major

/ ˈ��ɪ��ə /

noun

MajorJohn1943MBritishPOLITICS: politicianPOLITICS: statesmanPOLITICS: prime minister Sir John. born 1943, British Conservative politician: Chancellor of the Exchequer (1989–90); prime minister (1990–97)

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Derived Forms

ˈ��ǰ��󾱱�, noun

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of major¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin, comparative of magnus “great, large”; replacing Middle English maio(u)r, majour, from Anglo-French, from Latin, as above; majesty

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of major¹

C15 (adj): from Latin, comparative of magnus great; C17 (n, in military sense): from French, short for sergeant major

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Synonym Study

See capital ¹.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

That means major US department stores like Target and Walmart, where Americans often turn for affordable clothing, and some familiar apparel brands may feel the pressure.

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In the company’s first appearance at CinemaCon, executives repeatedly reiterated Amazon MGM Studios’ pledge that theatrical distribution was a major part of its business plan.

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California is a major trading partner globally, and tariffs could adversely impact many sectors of the state’s economy, from the tech industry to agriculture and the ports.

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The move was amid the all-out strike, which was declared a major incident on Monday.

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Only three major league ballparks are older: Dodger Stadium, Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, all of which have been refreshed and revitalized for new generations of fans.

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