26984 words

major

15 definitions • 34 examples
1
more important, bigger, or more serious than others of the same type:

Examples:

All of her major plays have been translated into English.
Sugar is a major cause of tooth decay.
There are two problems with this situation, one major, one minor.
Citrus fruits are a major source of vitamin C.
There has been a major change in attitudes recently.
The United States is a major influence in the United Nations.
2
belonging or relating to a musical scale that is generally thought to have a happy sound:

Examples:

the key of C major
a concerto in A major
3
belonging or relating to the professional baseball and ice hockey leagues (= groups of teams who play games against each other) that play at the highest level:

Examples:

The team begin the major-league baseball season with high expectations of reaching the major world series.
He began this season playing major junior hockey in Canada.
4
an officer of middle rank in the British, US, and many other armed forces:

Examples:

Her father was a major in the Scots Guards.
Major Winters/Richard Winters
[ as form of address ] Thank you, Major.
5
the most important subject that a college or university student is studying, or the student himself or herself:

Examples:

What is your major, English or French?
She was a philosophy major at an Ivy League college.
6

Examples:

The Australian Open is the first major of the year.
Serena Williams has won more majors than any other tennis player.
7
the professional baseball leagues (= groups of teams who play games against each other) that play at the highest level:

Examples:

He first made it to the majors as a twenty-year-old.
8
to study something as your main subject at college or university:

Examples:

She majored in philosophy at Harvard.
9
more important, bigger, or more serious than others of the same type:

Examples:

Fresh fruits are a major source of vitamin C.
We awaited major new developments in the peace talks.
10
based on a scale (= series of musical notes) in which there is a whole step (= sound difference) between each note except between the third and fourth notes and the seventh and eighth notes:

Examples:

a major scale
a major chord
12

Examples:

an English major
13
very large, important, or powerful, especially when compared with others of the same type:

Examples:

Exports play a major role in key sub-sectors.
Our prices are lower on 2,000 items than those of all our major competitors.
14
a major change, difference, etc. affects a lot of people or organizations, sometimes in a way that causes difficulties for them:

Examples:

Lack of skilled workers has become a major problem in recent years.
15
one of the most important companies in a particular industry:

Examples:

The majors are projected to collect up to $1 trillion in profits over the next 10 years.
Among the majors, this airline ranks first for on-time arrivals .

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