I . *min·ute
/ ˈmɪnɪt; NAmE / noun , verb
—see also minute (II)
■ noun
PART OF HOUR
1.
[ C ] ( abbr. min. ) each of the 60 parts of an hour, that are equal to 60 seconds :
It's four minutes to six.
I'll be back in a few minutes.
Boil the rice for 20 minutes.
a ten-minute bus ride
I enjoyed every minute of the party.
VERY SHORT TIME
2.
[ sing. ] ( informal ) a very short time :
It only takes a minute to make a salad.
Hang on a minute —I'll just get my coat.
I just have to finish this—I won't be a minute.
Could I see you for a minute?
I'll be with you in a minute , Jo.
Typical English weather—one minute it's raining and the next minute the sun is shining.
EXACT MOMENT
3.
[ sing. ] an exact moment in time :
At that very minute, Tom walked in.
ANGLES
4.
[ C ] each of the 60 equal parts of a degree, used in measuring angles :
37 degrees 30 minutes (37 ° 30′)
RECORD OF MEETING
5.
the minutes [ pl. ] a summary or record of what is said or decided at a formal meeting :
We read through the minutes of the last meeting.
Who is going to take the minutes (= write them) ?
SHORT NOTE
6.
[ C ] a short note on a subject, especially one that recommends a course of action
•
IDIOMS
- (at) any minute (now)
- the minute (that) ...
- not for a / one minute
- this minute
- to the minute
- up to the minute
—more at born , just adverb , last determiner , wait verb
■ verb
to write down sth that is said at a meeting in the official record (= the minutes ) :
[ vn ]
I'd like that last remark to be minuted.
[also v that ]
II . mi·nute
/ maɪˈnjuːt; NAmE ; NAmE also -ˈnuːt/ adjective
—see also minute (I) ( superlative minut·est , no comparative )
1.
extremely small
SYN tiny :
minute amounts of chemicals in the water
The kitchen on the boat is minute.
2.
very detailed, careful and thorough :
a minute examination / inspection
She remembered everything in minute detail / in the minutest detail(s) .
► mi·nute·ly adverb :
The agreement has been examined minutely.
••
WORD ORIGIN
I . late Middle English : via Old French from late Latin minuta , feminine (used as a noun) of minutus made small. The senses period of sixty seconds and sixtieth of a degree derive from medieval Latin pars minuta prima first minute part. The sense record of a meeting is from late Middle English (in the singular in the sense note or memorandum ): from French minute , from the notion of a rough copy in “small writing” ( Latin scriptura minuta ) as distinct from the fair copy in book hand. The verb dates from the mid 16th cent.
II . late Middle English (in the sense lesser , with reference to a tithe or tax): from Latin minutus lessened, past participle of minuere .