major
ma‧jor1 S1 W1 AC /ˈmeɪdʒə $ -ər/ 
adjective
OPP minor:
There is a major problem with parking in London.
The loss of their goalkeeper through injury was a major setback for the team.
He underwent major heart surgery recently.
It could have sparked a major confrontation.
2. [usually before noun] very large or important, when compared to other things or people of a similar kind
OPP minor
major role/part/factor etc
Britain played a major role in the negotiations.
There are two major political parties in the US.
The government’s major concern is with preventing road accidents.
Smoking is one of the major causes of cancer.
the major developments in computer technology
a major road
3. [not before noun] American English spoken very important:
This is major? You got me out of bed for this?
4. a major key is based on a musical scale in which there are semitones between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth notes ⇨ minor:
a symphony in D major
major2 noun [countable]
1. an officer of middle rank in the British or US army or Marines, or in the US air force ⇨ drum major
2. especially American English the main subject that a student studies at college or university:
Her major is history.
3. American English someone studying a particular subject as their main subject at college or university:
She’s a history major.
4. the majors [plural] the Major Leagues
major3 verb
major in something phrasal verb
especially American English to study something as your main subject at college or university:
He’s majoring in Political Science.
major on something phrasal verb
especially British English to pay particular attention to one subject or thing:
The company is planning to major on offering the machines we need.
| I |
adjective Date: 1200-1300
Language: Latin
Origin: 'larger, greater', from magnus 'large, great'
1. [usually before noun] having very serious or worrying results Language: Latin
Origin: 'larger, greater', from magnus 'large, great'
OPP minor:
2. [usually before noun] very large or important, when compared to other things or people of a similar kind
OPP minor
major role/part/factor etc
3. [not before noun] American English spoken very important:
4. a major key is based on a musical scale in which there are semitones between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth notes ⇨ minor:
| II |
noun [countable]1. an officer of middle rank in the British or US army or Marines, or in the US air force ⇨ drum major
2. especially American English the main subject that a student studies at college or university:
3. American English someone studying a particular subject as their main subject at college or university:
4. the majors [plural] the Major Leagues
| III |
verbmajor in something phrasal verb
especially American English to study something as your main subject at college or university:
major on something phrasal verb
especially British English to pay particular attention to one subject or thing:
Major
Major, John
(1943–) a British politician in the Conservative Party, who became Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher was forced to leave this position in 1990, and was then elected in 1992. During his period as leader, which ended after his party lost the election in 1997, he had the difficult job of trying to settle disagreements in his party about the UK’s position in the European Union. He was thought of by many people as a pleasant man, but rather ‘grey’ (=boring).
Major, John
(1943–) a British politician in the Conservative Party, who became Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher was forced to leave this position in 1990, and was then elected in 1992. During his period as leader, which ended after his party lost the election in 1997, he had the difficult job of trying to settle disagreements in his party about the UK’s position in the European Union. He was thought of by many people as a pleasant man, but rather ‘grey’ (=boring).