minor

  • adjective 1 having little importance, seriousness, or significance. 2 Music having or based on intervals of a semitone between the second and third degrees, and (usually) the fifth and sixth, and the seventh and eighth. Contrasted with MAJOR. 3 Brit. dated (added to a surname in public schools) indicating the younger of two brothers.

  • noun 1 a person under the age of full legal responsibility. 2 Music a minor key, interval, or scale. 3 N. Amer. a student’s subsidiary subject or course.

  • verb (minor in) N. Amer. study or qualify in as a subsidiary subject.

  — ORIGIN Latin, ‘smaller, less’.

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