minute1

Syllabification: (mi·nute)

Pronunciation: /ˈminit/

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Definition of minute

noun

1a period of time equal to sixty seconds or a sixtieth of an hour:he stood in the shower for twenty minutes in ten minutes' time he could be on his way
the distance covered in sixty seconds by someone driving or walking:the hotel is situated just ten minutes from the center of the resort
informal a very short time:come and sit down for a minute
an instant or a point of time:she had been laughing one minute and crying the next

2 (also arc minute or minute of arc) a sixtieth of a degree of angular measurement (symbol: ʹ).

Phrases

any minute (or at any minute): very soon.
by the minute: (especially of the progress of a change) very rapidly:matters grew worse by the minute
just (or wait) a minute
the minute (or the minute that): as soon as:let me know the minute he returns
not for a minute: not at all:don’t think for a minute that our pricing has affected our quality standards
this minute (or this very minute): informal at once; immediately:pull yourself together this minute

Origin:

late Middle English: via Old French from late Latin minuta, feminine (used as a noun) of minutus 'made small'. The senses 'period of sixty seconds' and 'sixtieth of a degree' derive from medieval Latin pars minuta prima 'first minute part'

minute in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of minute in the British & World English dictionary

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Other

minute1

noun

Phrases

any minute (or at any minute)

by the minute

just (or wait) a minute

the minute (or the minute that)

not for a minute

this minute (or this very minute)

Origin:

minute in other Oxford dictionaries

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