major

¹ma·jor

adj \ˈmā-jər\

Definition of MAJOR

1

: greater in dignity, rank, importance, or interest <one of the major poets>

2

: greater in number, quantity, or extent <the major part of his work>

3

: having attained majority

4

a : notable or conspicuous in effect or scope : considerable <a major improvement> b : prominent or significant in size, amount, or degree <earned some major cash>

5

: involving grave risk : serious <a major illness>

6

: of or relating to a subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization

7

a : having half steps between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth degrees <major scale> b : based on a major scale <major key> c : equivalent to the distance between the keynote and another tone (except the fourth and fifth) of a major scale <major third> d : having a major third above the root <major triad>

Examples of MAJOR

1. He's one of the major figures in 19th-century U.S. history.
2. Researchers have announced a major advance in the treatment of cancer.
3. She played a major role in the negotiations.
4. No major changes are expected.
5. The grant covered a major part of the cost.
6. Butter is one of the major ingredients in the recipe.
7. None of his health problems are major.
8. He suffered a major heart attack.

Origin of MAJOR

Middle English maiour, from Latin major, comparative of magnus great, large — more at much

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to MAJOR

Synonyms: biggish, good, goodly, handsome, healthy, largish, considerable, respectable, significant, sizable (or sizeable), substantial, substantive, tidy

Antonyms: inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, insubstantial, negligible, nominal

Related Words: big, bulky, hefty, hulking, outsize (also outsized), oversize (or oversized), voluminous; astronomical (also astronomic), bumper, colossal, elephantine, enormous, gigantic, great, herculean, huge, immense, jumbo, king-size (or king-sized), mammoth, massive, monstrous, monumental, prodigious, titanic, tremendous, whopping

Near Antonyms: measly, minute, paltry, petty, picayune, picayunish, piddling, puny, trifling, trivial, unimportant; marginal, meager (or meagre), slight; little, small, tiny, undersized (also undersize); bitty, diminutive, miniature, pint-size (or pint-sized), pocket, pocket-size (also pocket-sized), pygmy, smallish

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Rhymes with MAJOR

gauger, Major, pager, stager, wager