/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 .