minor

adjective

• 1lesser in importance, seriousness, or significance: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. Compare with diminished.
• [usually postpositive] (of a key or mode) based on a minor scale, tending to produce a sad or pensive effect:Concerto in A minor

• 3 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.

• 2 Music a minor key, interval, or scale.
• (Minor) Bell-ringing a system of change-ringing using six bells.

• 3 (the minors) North American the minor leagues in a particular professional sport, especially baseball:he’s been pitching in the minors for six years

• 4North American a college student’s subsidiary subject or area of concentration:a minor in American Indian studies

• 5 Logic a minor term or premise.

• 6 Bridgeshort for minor suit.

verb

• study or qualify in as a subsidiary subject at college or university.