minor

mi-nor · adjective

imported

Definitions

adjective

  1. 1.

    Lesser in importance, seriousness, or significance.

  2. 2.

    (music) Of a scale or key based on a minor scale, typically having a sad or serious quality.

  3. 3.

    A person under the age of full legal responsibility.

  4. 4.

    (US education) A secondary subject or area of concentration at a university.

  5. 5.

    (US education) To study as a secondary subject.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    minor key — a musical key based on the minor scale
  • •
    minor league — a professional sports league below the major leagues
  • •
    minor surgery — a surgical procedure with low risk
  • •
    in a minor way — to a small degree

Related words

Antonyms: adult, major, significant
See also: major, minimum, minority
Synonyms: lesser, secondary, small, trivial

Etymology

From Latin minor ("smaller, less, younger"), comparative of parvus ("small"). Related to minus and minimum.