major /māˈjər/

1. Greater, or great, in number, quantity, size, value or importance
2. (in boys' schools) senior
3. Greater (than minor) by a semitone (music)
4. Involving a major third (see below; music)

1. A person of full legal age (in UK, before 1970, 21 years; from 1970, 18 years)
2. An officer in rank between a captain and lieutenant-colonel
3. By courtesy, a sergeant-major
4. An officer in charge of a military band
5. Anything that is major opposed to minor
6. (in pl) the major sports leagues (US)
7. (a student taking) a main subject of study at a university or college (N American, Aust and NZ)
8. A film company, record label, etc with a large distribution network
9. A kind of wig (obsolete)

1. To specialize in a particular subject at college (with in; N American, Aust and NZ)
2. To strut around with a self-important air (Walter Scott)
3. To specialize in a particular product, etc (with in or on)

To channel or concentrate (one's activities, efforts, etc) in a particular direction

majorat /mä-zhō-rä/ noun (French)

Primogeniture

mājoretteˈ noun

A member of a group of girls who march in parades, etc, wearing decorative, military-style uniforms, and usu twirling batons or playing instruments

majorettˈing noun

The practice of performing as majorettes

majority /mə-jorˈi-ti/ noun

1. The greater number
2. The greater part, the bulk
3. The difference between the greater and the lesser number
4. Pre-eminence
5. Full age (see n above)
6. (the party with) the winning margin or votes in an election
7. The office or rank of major

Of the majority

maˈjorly adverb (slang)

Extremely

māˈjorship noun

major axis noun (mathematics)

(in conic sections) the axis passing through the foci

major-dōˈmō noun (pl major-dōˈmōs)

1. (Sp mayordomo, from Med L mājor domūs) an official who has the general management in a large household
2. A general steward

major-genˈeral noun

An officer in the army next in rank below a lieutenant-general

major-genˈeralcy or major-genˈeralship noun

The office or rank of major-general

major histocompatibility complex noun (immunology)

The collection of genes coding for the major histocompatibility antigens, which are involved in determining acceptance or rejection of transplanted organs (abbrev MHC)

majority carrier noun (electronics)

In a semiconductor, the type of carrier (electrons or holes) that carries most of the measured current

majority rule noun

Government by members, or by a body including members, of the largest ethnic group(s) in a country, as opposed to a political system which excludes them

majority verdict noun

The verdict reached by the majority in a jury, as distinct from a unanimous verdict

major key, major mode or major scale noun (music)

A key, mode or scale with its third a major third above the tonic

major orders plural noun

In the Roman Catholic Church, the higher degrees of holy orders, ie bishop, priest and deacon

major piece noun (chess)

A queen or rook

major planet noun

A planet of the solar system, as opposed to an asteroid

major premise noun (logic)

The premise in which the major term occurs

major suit noun (bridge)

Spades or hearts, valued more highly than diamonds or clubs

major term noun (logic)

The term which is the predicate of the conclusion

major third noun (music)

An interval of four semitones

• minor prophets
• minors
• minor scale
• minor scales
• minorship
• minor suit
• minor suits
• minor term
• minor terms
• minor third
• minor thirds
• minor tone
• minor tones
• minos
• Minotaur
• minotaur beetle
• minotaur beetles
• minoxidil
• minoxidils
• minshuku
• minshukus
• minster
• minsters
• minstrel
• minstrels