major
a commissioned military officer ranking next below a lieutenant colonel and next above a captain.
one of superior rank, ability, etc., in a specified class.
Education.
a subject or field of study chosen by a student to represent their principal interest and upon which a large share of their efforts are concentrated: History was my major in college.
a student engaged in such study.
a person of full legal age (opposed to minor).
Music. a major interval, chord, scale, etc.
the majors,
Sports. the major leagues: He coached in the majors as well as in the minors.
the companies or organizations that lead or control a particular field of activity: the oil majors.
greater in size, extent, or importance: the major part of the town.
great, as in rank or importance: a major political issue;a major artist.
serious or risky: a major operation.
of or relating to the majority: the major opinion.
of full legal age.
Music.
(of an interval) being between the tonic and the second, third, sixth, or seventh degrees of a major scale: a major third;a major sixth.
(of a chord) having a major third between the root and the note next above it.
pertaining to the subject in which a student takes the most courses: Her major field is English history.
(initial capital letter) (of one of two male students in an English public school who have the same surname) being the elder or higher in standing: Hobbes Major is not of a scientific bent.
to follow a major course of study: He is majoring in physics.
Origin of major
1synonym study For major
Other definitions for Major (2 of 2)
Clarence, born 1936, U.S. novelist and poet.
John, born 1943, British political leader: prime minister 1990–97.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use major in a sentence
But, the company has seemingly been hit harder than almost any other major media conglomerate, despite a strict testing policy, which started at the beginning of the pandemic’s spread in the United States.
Despite precautions, CBS headquarters reports 15 coronavirus cases amid nationwide surge | Jeremy Barr | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostShe then played club hockey at the University of Colorado, where she majored in film studies.
Emily Engel-Natzke’s dad was her ‘biggest fan.’ He died of covid-19 before her hockey triumph. | Samantha Pell | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostThis is the first major book to tell Glenn’s story since his death in late 2016 at age 95, so the perfect time for analysis and evaluation of his life.
Another look at John Glenn through a heroic lens | Francis French | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostWe’ve rounded up a few notable performances and moments from the show, with details on the major winners below.
Latin Grammys 2020: 5 things you missed, from Bad Bunny’s performance to Pitbull honoring front-line workers | Bethonie Butler | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostAlone among the major news networks, Fox News carried Thursday’s news conference in its entirety.
Rudy Giuliani floated ‘dangerous’ and incendiary false claims of election conspiracy — and Fox News broadcast it live | Paul Farhi, Elahe Izadi | November 19, 2020 | Washington Post
After graduating high school, he attending the University of Virginia, double-majoring in economics and foreign relations.
Ben McKenzie’s Journey From Reluctant Teen Idol on ‘The O.C.’ to Sheriff of ‘Gotham’ | Marlow Stern | November 4, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd what the hell were you thinking, majoring in History of Film?
My Commencement Speech to Rutgers’ Geniuses: Go Forth and Fail | P. J. O’Rourke | May 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBarack Obama wrote a handwritten apology this week after making a joke about majoring in art history.
After To Die For, Affleck moved to New York and attended Columbia University for two years, majoring in physics and astronomy.
Casey Affleck, Star of ‘Out of the Furnace,’ on His Hollywood Struggles | Marlow Stern | December 2, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTI ended up majoring in philosophy, a choice that made my English-majoring friends look practical in comparison.
He was majoring in sociology through the advice of a faddist uncle who had never seen him.
The Witness | Grace Livingston Hill LutzBrilliant in his work—he was majoring in chemistry—he was a mathematician who was never stopped.
Astounding Stories, June, 1931 | VariousMajoring in physical ed at college, I often covered the various sports events for the campus paper.
The Scapegoat | Richard MaplesWhat he's majoring it for, Brocton and the devil alone know.
The Yeoman Adventurer | George W. Gough"I'm thinking of majoring in physics when I go to Berkeley," Darryl said.
Little Brother | Cory Doctorow
British Dictionary definitions for major (1 of 2)
/ (ˈmeɪdʒə) /
military an officer immediately junior to a lieutenant colonel
a person who is superior in a group or class
a large or important company: the oil majors
(often preceded by the) music a major key, chord, mode, or scale
US, Canadian, Australian and NZ
the principal field of study of a student at a university, etc: his major is sociology
a student who is studying a particular subject as his principal field: a sociology major
a person who has reached the age of legal majority
logic a major term or premise
a principal or important record company, film company, etc
the majors (plural) US and Canadian the major leagues
larger in extent, number, etc: the major part
of greater importance or priority
very serious or significant: a major disaster
main, chief, or principal
of, involving, or making up a majority
music
(of a scale or mode) having notes separated by the interval of a whole tone, except for the third and fourth degrees, and seventh and eighth degrees, which are separated by a semitone
relating to or employing notes from the major scale: a major key
(postpositive) denoting a specified key or scale as being major: C major
denoting a chord or triad having a major third above the root
(in jazz) denoting a major chord with a major seventh added above the root
logic constituting the major term or major premise of a syllogism
mainly US, Canadian, Australian and NZ of or relating to a student's principal field of study at a university, etc
British the elder: used after a schoolboy's surname if he has one or more younger brothers in the same school: Price major
of full legal age
(postpositive) bell-ringing of, relating to, or denoting a method rung on eight bells
(intr usually foll by in) US, Canadian, Australian and NZ to do one's principal study (in a particular subject): to major in English literature
(intr usually foll by on) to take or deal with as the main area of interest: the book majors on the peasant dishes
Origin of major
1Derived forms of major
- majorship, noun
British Dictionary definitions for Major (2 of 2)
/ (ˈmeɪdʒə) /
Sir John. born 1943, British Conservative politician: Chancellor of the Exchequer (1989–90); prime minister (1990–97)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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