adj.
- important, serious, or significant.
▸greater or more important; main.
- Music (of a scale) having intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees. Contrasted with minor.
▸(of an interval) equivalent to that between the tonic and another note of a major scale, and greater by a semitone than the corresponding minor interval.
▸
[
postpos.]
(of a key) based on a major scale:
Prelude in G Major.
- Brit. dated (appended to a surname in public schools) indicating the elder of two brothers:
Smith major.
- Logic (of a term) occurring as the predicate in the conclusion of a categorical syllogism.
▸(of a premise) containing the major term in a categorical syllogism.
n.
- a rank of officer in the army and the US air force, above captain and below lieutenant colonel.
▸an officer in charge of a section of band instruments:
a trumpet major.
- Music a major key, interval, or scale.
- a major organization or competition.
- N. Amer. a student's principal subject or course.
▸a student specializing in a specified subject:
a math major.
- Logic a major term or premise.
- Bell-ringing a system of change-ringing using eight bells.
- Australian Rules a goal.
v.
(
major in)
N. Amer. &
Austral./NZ specialize in (a subject) at college or university.
Etymology
ME: from L., compar. of magnus ‘great’; perh. influenced by Fr. majeur.