major

  • adjective 1 important, serious, or significant. 2 greater or more important; main. 3 Music based on intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees. Contrasted with MINOR.

  • noun 1 a rank of officer in the army and the US air force, above captain and below lieutenant colonel. 2 an officer in charge of a section of band instruments. 3 Music a major key, interval, or scale. 4 N. Amer. a student’s principal subject or course. 5 N. Amer. a student specializing in a specified subject.

  • verb (major in) N. Amer. & Austral./NZ specialize in (a particular subject) at college or university.

  — ORIGIN Latin, comparative of magnus ‘great’.

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