~ 1 [ 'mɪnɪt ]
■ noun
1》 a period of time equal to sixty seconds or a sixtieth of an hour.
↘ informal a very short time.
2》 (also arc ~ or ~ of arc ) a sixtieth of a degree of angular measurement. (Symbol: ʻ )
Phrases
up to the ~ incorporating the very latest information or developments.
Origin
ME: via OFr. from late L. minuta , feminine (used asnoun) of minutus 'made small'; the senses 'period of sixty seconds' and 'sixtieth of a degree' derive from med. L. pars minuta prima 'first ~ part'.
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~ 2 [ mʌɪ'nju:t ]
■ adjective ( ~st )
1》 extremely small.
2》 precise and meticulous: a ~ examination.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
ME (in the sense 'lesser', with ref. to a tithe or tax): from L. minutus 'lessened', past participle of minuere .
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~ 3 [ 'mɪnɪt ]
■ noun
1》 ( ~s ) a summarized record of the points discussed at a meeting.
2》 an official memorandum.
■ verb
1》 record or note (the points discussed at a meeting).
2》 send (someone) a ~.
Origin
ME: from Fr. ~ , from the notion of a rough copy in ‘small writing’ (L. scriptura minuta ).