minor

 
Pronunciation: /ˈmʌɪnə/

adjective

  • 1lesser in importance, seriousness, or significance: she requested a number of minor alterations
  • 2 Music (of a scale) having intervals of a semitone between the second and third degrees, and (usually) the fifth and sixth, and the seventh and eighth. Contrasted with major
  • (of an interval) characteristic of a minor scale and less by a semitone than the equivalent major interval: the E flat clarinet sounds a minor third higher than the written notesCompare with diminished
  • [usually postpositive] (of a key or mode) based on a minor scale and tending to produce a sad or pensive effect: Concerto in A minor
  • 3British dated (following a surname in public schools) indicating the younger of two brothers: Smith minor
  • 4 Logic (of a term) occurring as the subject of the conclusion of a categorical syllogism.
  • (of a premise) containing the minor term in a categorical syllogism.

noun

  • 1a person under the age of full legal responsibility: the court would take account of the minor’s wishes
  • 2 Music a minor key, interval, or scale.
  • Bell-ringing a system of change-ringing using six bells.
  • 3 (minors) North American the minor leagues in baseball or American football: Salinas was one of six teams in the minors
  • 4North American a student’s subsidiary subject or course: a minor in American Indian studies
  • 5 Logic a minor term or premise.
  • 6 Bridgeshort for minor suit a bid of two no trumps shows strength in the minors
  • 7a small drab moth which has purplish caterpillars that feed on grass.
    • Genus Oligia, family Noctuidae

verb

[no object] (minor in) North American
  • study as or qualify in a subsidiary subject at college or university: Clark had minored in Animal Science

Phrases

in a minor key

(especially of a literary work) understated: only Britain’s poetry, composed in a minor key, is disregarded

Origin:

Middle English: from Latin, 'smaller, less'; related to minuere 'lessen'. The term originally denoted a Franciscan friar, suggested by the Latin name Fratres Minores ( 'Lesser Brethren'), chosen by St Francis for the order