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Adjective: major  mey-ju(r)
  1. Of greater importance, stature or rank
    "major highways"; "a major artist"; "a major role"
     
  2. Greater in scope or effect
    "a major break with tradition"; "a major misunderstanding"; "a major contribution"; "a major improvement"
     
  3. Greater in number, size or amount
    "Ursa Major"; "a major portion (a majority) of the population"; "a major portion of the winnings"
     
  4. [N. Amer, Austral, NZ] Of the field of academic study in which one concentrates or specializes
    "his major field was mathematics"
     
  5. (of a scale or mode) having half steps between the third and fourth degrees and the seventh and eighth degrees
    "major scales"; "the key of D major"
     
  6. Of greater seriousness or danger
    "a major illness"; "a major earthquake"; "a major hurricane"
     
  7. (law) of full legal age
    "At 18, she was considered a major and could enter into legally binding contracts"
     
  8. [Brit] Of the elder of two boys with the same family name
    "Jones major"
Noun: major  mey-ju(r)
  1. (military) a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines; below lieutenant colonel and above captain
    "The major led his troops into the training exercise"
     
  2. [N. Amer, Austral, NZ] A university student who is studying a particular field as the principal subject
    "she is a linguistics major"
     
  3. [N. Amer, Austral, NZ] The principal field of study of a student at a university
    "her major is linguistics"
Verb: major  mey-ju(r)
Usage: N. Amer, Austral, NZ
  1. Have as one's principal field of study
    "She is majoring in linguistics"
Noun: Major  mey-ju(r)
  1. British statesman who was prime minister from 1990 until 1997 (born in 1943)
    - John Major, John R. Major, John Roy Major

Derived forms: majoring, majors, majored

See also: better, bulk, leading, lion's share [informal], majority, most, prima, senior, star, starring, stellar [informal]

Type of: bailiwick, commissioned military officer, discipline, educatee, field, field of study, national leader, PM, premier, Prime Minister, pupil, statesperson, student, study, subject, subject area, subject field

Antonym: minor

Part of: Conservative Party, Tory Party

Encyclopedia: Major, Patrick