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   major

   /ˈmeɪdʒə/

   adjective

   • 1. important, serious, or significant: "the use of drugs is a major problem" Similar crucialvitalgreatconsiderableparamountutmostprimeextensiveimportantbigsignificantweightycrucialkeysweepingsubstantialseriousradicalcomplicateddifficultOpposite littleunimportanttrivialminor
   • ▪ greater or more important; main: "he got the major share of the spoils" Similar greatestbestfinestmost importantchiefmainprimeprincipalcapitalcardinalleadingstarforemostoutstandingfirst-ratetop-tiernotableeminentpre-eminentarch-supremeuppermostOpposite minor
   • ▪ (of a surgical operation) serious or life-threatening: "he had to undergo major surgery"
   • 2. (of a scale) having intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees.
   • ▪ (of an interval) equivalent to that between the tonic and another note of a major scale, and greater by a semitone than the corresponding minor interval: "C to E is a major third"
   • ▪ (of a key) based on a major scale, tending to produce a bright or joyful effect: "Prelude in G Major"
   • 3. (appended to a surname in public schools) indicating the elder of two brothers. dated British
   • 4. (of a term) occurring as the predicate in the conclusion of a categorical syllogism.
   • ▪ (of a premise) containing the major term in a categorical syllogism. Similar crucialvitalgreatconsiderableparamountutmostprimeextensiveOpposite littleunimportant

   noun

   • 1. a rank of officer in the army and the US air force, above captain and below lieutenant colonel.
   • ▪ an officer in charge of a section of band instruments: "a trumpet major"
   • 2. a major key, interval, or scale.
   • ▪ a system of change-ringing using eight bells.
   • 3. a major organization or competition: "the majors have swept up the smaller independent companies in licensing deals"
   • 4. a student's principal subject or course: North American "many students would ignore courses outside their major"
   • ▪ a student specializing in a specified subject: "a math major"
   • 5. a major term or premise.
   • 6. short for major suit
   • 7. a goal.

   verb

   • 1. specialize in (a particular subject) at college or university: North American, Australian, New Zealand "I was trying to decide if I should major in drama or English"

   Word Origin Middle English: from Latin, comparative of magnus ‘great’; perhaps influenced by French majeur.

   Derivatives

   • 1. majorship noun

   Scrabble Points: 14

   • M

     3

   • A

     1

   • J

     8

   • O

     1

   • R

     1

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