MAJOR


Meaning of MAJOR in English

/may"jeuhr/ , n.

1. a commissioned military officer ranking next below a lieutenant colonel and next above a captain.

2. one of superior rank, ability, etc., in a specified class.

3. Educ.

a. a subject or field of study chosen by a student to represent his or her principal interest and upon which a large share of his or her efforts are concentrated: History was my major at college.

b. a student engaged in such study.

4. a person of full legal age (opposed to minor ).

5. Music. a major interval, chord, scale, etc.

6. the majors ,

a. Sports. the major leagues: He coached in the majors as well as in the minors.

b. the companies or organizations that lead or control a particular field of activity: the oil majors.

adj.

7. greater in size, extent, or importance: the major part of the town.

8. great, as in rank or importance: a major political issue; a major artist.

9. serious or risky: a major operation.

10. of or pertaining to the majority: the major opinion.

11. of full legal age.

12. Music.

a. (of an interval) being between the tonic and the second, third, sixth, or seventh degrees of a major scale: a major third; a major sixth.

b. (of a chord) having a major third between the root and the note next above it.

13. pertaining to the subject in which a student takes the most courses: Her major field is English history.

14. ( cap. ) (of one of two male students in an English public school who have the same surname) being the elder or higher in standing: Hobbes Major is not of a scientific bent.

v.i.

15. to follow a major course of study: He is majoring in physics.

[ 1350-1400; magnus large (cf. MAJESTY); r. ME majour ]

Syn. 8. See capital 1 .

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .