major

comparative more major · superlative most major · alternative obsolete majour

1. attributiveGreater in dignity, rank, importance, significance, or interest.

   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.

   2013 June 13, Karen McVeigh, “US supreme court rules human genes cannot be patented”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 2, page 10

2. attributiveGreater in number, quantity, or extent.

   the major part of the assembly

   2 more examples

   The three major religions are Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.

   The five major religions are Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

   Synonyms: main

3. attributiveNotable or conspicuous in effect or scope.

   The building underwent a major renovation.

   1 more example

   Believing as he did that all differences of view, not only on questions of major principle and strategy but also in matters of organization, in the last resort 'reflected' class antagonisms […]

   1978 [1976], Leszek Kołakowski, translated by P[aul] S[teven] Falla, Main Currents of Marxism, volume II: The Golden Age, Oxford: Clarendon Press, translation of Główne nurty marksizmu: rozwój (in Polish), →ISBN, →OCLC, page 393

   Synonyms: considerable

4. attributiveProminent or significant in size, amount, or degree.

   a major exhibition

   3 more examples

   to earn some major cash

   I gotta take a whiz test to my PO / I know I failed 'cause I done smoked major weed, bro

   1995, “I Got 5 on It”, in Operation Stackola, performed by Luniz

   [B]y the time I turned back to the screen, Jamie was fully dressed, major bummer.

   1995, Paul Vautin, Turn It Up!, Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia, page 129

5. attributivemedicineInvolving great risk, serious, life-threatening.

   to suffer from a major illness

6. Of full legal age, having attained majority.

   major children

7. educationOf or relating to a subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization.
8. entertainmentHaving intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees. (of a scale)

   major scale

9. entertainmentEquivalent 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

   1. entertainmentHaving a major third above the root.

      major triad

10. postpositionalentertainment(of a key) Based on a major scale, tending to produce a bright or joyful effect.
11. campanologyBell changes rung on eight bells.
12. UKdatedIndicating the elder of two brothers (or the eldest of three), appended to a surname in public schools.
13. human sciencesOccurring as the predicate in the conclusion of a categorical syllogism. (of a term)
14. human sciencesContaining the major term in a categorical syllogism. (of a premise)

plural majors · alternative obsolete majour

1. governmentA 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.

   1. governmentAn officer in charge of a section of band instruments, used with a modifier.
2. A person of legal age.

   Antonyms: minor

3. abbreviationellipsisentertainmentEllipsis of major key.
4. abbreviationellipsisentertainmentEllipsis of major interval.
5. abbreviationellipsisentertainmentEllipsis of major scale.
6. campanologyA system of change-ringing using eight bells.
7. 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.

   1997, Dominic Pride, “U.S. success caps global impact of XL's prodigy”, in Billboard, volume 109, number 30, page 86

8. AustraliaCanadaNew ZealandUSeducationThe principal subject or course of a student working toward a degree at a college or university.

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

   Synonyms: course

   1. AustraliaCanadaNew ZealandUSeducationA student at a college or university specializing on a given area of study.

      She is a math major.

      Synonyms: course

9. abbreviationellipsishuman sciencesEllipsis of major term.
10. abbreviationellipsishuman sciencesEllipsis of major premise.
11. abbreviationellipsisbridgeEllipsis of major suit.
12. Canadianball gamesA touchdown, or major score.
13. Australian rules footballA goal.
14. BritishdatedslangAn elder brother (especially at a public school).
15. biologyA large leaf-cutter ant that acts as a soldier, defending the nest.
16. alternativeobsoleteAlternative form of mayor and mair.

present singular third person majors · participle present majoring · participle past majored · past majored · alternative obsolete majour

1. intransitiveUsed in a phrasal verb: major in.

plural Majors

1. countableuncountableA surname.
2. countableuncountableAn unincorporated community in Owsley County, Kentucky, United States.
3. countableuncountableA village in the Rural Municipality of Prairiedale, No. 321, Saskatchewan, Canada.

plural Majors

1. governmentTitle for an army officer with the rank of major.