̈ɪˈmeɪdʒə adj., n., & v. --adj. 1
important,
large,
serious,
significant (a major road; a major
war;
the major
consideration must be
their health). 2 (of an operation) serious or life-threatening. 3 Mus. a (of a scale) having intervals of a
semitone between the
third and fourth, and
seventh and
eighth degrees. b (of an interval) greater by a semitone
than a
minor interval (major third). c (of a key) based on a major scale, tending to
produce a
bright or
joyful effect (D major). 4 of full
age. 5
Brit. (appended to a
surname,
esp. in
public schools) the elder of
two brothers or the
first to
enter the school (Smith major). 6
Logic a (of a term) occurring in the
predicate or
conclusion of a
syllogism. b (of a premiss) containing a major
term. --n. 1
Mil. a an
army officer next below lieutenant-colonel and
above captain. b an officer in
charge of a
section of
band instruments (drum major;
pipe major). 2 a
person of full age. 3 US a a student's
special subject or
course. b a
student specializing in a specified subject (a
philosophy major). 4 Logic a major term or
premiss. --v.intr. (foll. by in) US
study or
qualify in a subject (majored in theology). ømajor axis the axis of a
conic,
passing through its foci. major-general an officer next below a lieutenant-general. major league US a league of major
importance in
baseball etc. major
part (often foll. by of) the
majority. major
piece Chess a rook or
queen. major
planet Jupiter,
Saturn,
Uranus, or
Neptune. major
prophet Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, or Daniel. major
suit Bridge spades or hearts. øømajorship n. [ME f. L, compar. of magnus great]
