adj.
- having little importance, seriousness, or significance.
- Music (of a scale) having intervals of a semitone between the second and third degrees, and (usually) the fifth and sixth, and the seventh and eighth. Contrasted with major.
▸(of an interval) characteristic of a minor scale and less by a semitone than the equivalent major interval.
▸
[
often postpos.]
(of a key or mode) based on a minor scale:
Concerto in A minor.
- Brit. dated (appended to a surname in public schools) indicating the younger of two brothers:
Smith minor.
- Logic (of a term) occurring as the subject of the conclusion of a categorical syllogism.
▸(of a premise) containing the minor term in a categorical syllogism.
n.
- a person under the age of full legal responsibility.
- Music a minor key, interval, or scale.
▸Bell-ringing a system of change-ringing using six bells.
-
(minors)
N. Amer. the minor leagues in baseball or American football.
- N. Amer. a student's subsidiary subject or course.
- Logic a minor term or premise.
- a small drab moth which has purplish caterpillars that feed on grass.
[Genus Oligia.]
v.
(
minor in)
N. Amer. study or qualify in as a subsidiary subject.
Etymology
ME (orig. denoting a Franciscan friar, suggested by the Latin name Fratres Minores, ‘Lesser Brethren’, chosen by St Francis): from L., ‘smaller, less’.