I. ˈmā-jər adjective
Etymology: Middle English maiour, from Latin major, comparative of magnus great, large — more at much
Date: 15th century
1. : greater in dignity, rank, importance, or interest
one of the major poets
2. : greater in number, quantity, or extent
the major part of his work
3. : having attained majority
4.
a. : notable or conspicuous in effect or scope : considerable
a major improvement
b. : prominent or significant in size, amount, or degree
earned some major cash
5. : involving grave risk : serious
a major illness
6. : of or relating to a subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization
7.
a. : having half steps between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth degrees
major scale
b. : based on a major scale
major key
c. : equivalent to the distance between the keynote and another tone (except the fourth and fifth) of a major scale
major third
d. : having a major third above the root
major triad
II. noun
Date: 1616
1. : a person who has attained majority
2.
a. : one that is superior in rank, importance, size, or performance
economic power of the oil major s
b. : a major musical interval, scale, key, or mode
3. : a commissioned officer in the army, air force, or marine corps ranking above a captain and below a lieutenant colonel
4.
a. : an academic subject chosen as a field of specialization
b. : a student specializing in such a field
a history major
5. plural : major league baseball — used with the
6. : any of several high-level tournaments in professional golf
III. intransitive verb
Date: 1913
: to pursue an academic major
major ed in English