major

ma|jor¹ W2S3 [ˈmeıdʒə US -ər] adj

[Date: 1200-1300; : Latin; Origin: 'larger, greater', from magnus 'large, great']

1.) [usually before noun]

having very serious or worrying results

≠ ↑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

≠ ↑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 accidents on the roads.

▪ Smoking is one of the major causes of cancer.

▪ the major developments in computer technology

▪ a major road

3.) [not before noun] AmE 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

major ²

major² n

1.) an officer of middle rank in the British or US army or marines, or in the US airforce

→↑drum major

2.) especially AmE the main subject that a student studies at college or university

▪ Her major is history.

3.) AmE 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

major ³

major³ v

major in [major in sth] phr v

especially AmE to study something as your main subject at college or university

▪ He's majoring in Political Science.

major on [major on sth] phr v

especially BrE to pay particular attention to one subject or thing

▪ The company is planning to major on offering the machines we need.