minim

American  

[min-uhm] / ˈmɪn əm /

noun

1. the smallest unit of liquid measure, 1/60 (0.0167) of a fluid dram, roughly equivalent to one drop. min, min.; ♍, ♏

2. Music. a note, formerly the shortest in use, but now equivalent in time value to one half of a semibreve; half note.

3. the least quantity of anything.

4. something very small or insignificant.

5. (initial capital letter) a member of a mendicant religious order founded in the 15th century by St. Francis of Paola.

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adjective

1. smallest.

2. very small.

minim British  

/ ˈmɪnɪm /

noun

1.  M.  a unit of fluid measure equal to one sixtieth of a drachm. It is approximately equal to one drop

2. Usual US and Canadian name: half-note.  music a note having the time value of half a semibreve

3. a small or insignificant person or thing

4. a downward stroke in calligraphy

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adjective

1. rare very small; tiny

Etymology

Origin of minim

1400–50; late Middle English < Medieval Latin, Latin minimus; as musical term, < Medieval Latin ( nota ) minima; see minimum

Example Sentences

What they meant was that Meredith Willson, 63, was a missed minim who didn't belong on the council.

From Time Magazine Archive

Not at once did he learn the art of combating starvation with minim resources.

From The House of Cobwebs and Other Stories by Gissing, George

Deinde etiam tempora distinguemus, vt nihil minim sit grassante annonæ sæuitia, multa à multis ad explendam famem adhiberi aut adhibita fuisse, quæ alias vix canes pascant.

From The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 01 by Hakluyt, Richard

From dust it turned to dirt, from minim into mountain.

From Eden An Episode by Saltus, Edgar

I repeated the operation in exactly the same manner, and now the drops averaged 1/23.5 of a minim.

From Insectivorous Plants by Darwin, Charles