MINOR | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Middle English: from Latin, ‘smaller, less’; related to minuere ‘lessen’. The term originally denoted a Franciscan friar, suggested by the Latin name Fratres Minores ( ‘Lesser Brethren’), chosen by St Francis for the order

lesser in importance, seriousness, or significance

lesser in importance or seriousness

• she requested a number of minor alterations

(of a scale) having intervals of a semitone between the second and third degrees, and (usually) the fifth and sixth, and the seventh and eighth.

relating to musical scale

(following a surname in public schools) indicating the younger of two brothers

indicating younger of two brothers

• Smith minor

(of a term) occurring as the subject of the conclusion of a categorical syllogism.

(of term) occurring as subject of conclusion

a person under the age of full legal responsibility

person under age of legal responsibility

• the court would take account of the minor's wishes

a minor key, interval, or scale.

minor key

the minor leagues in baseball or American football

minor leagues in baseball or American football

• Salinas was one of six teams in the minors

a student's subsidiary subject or course

student's subsidiary subject or course

• a minor in American Indian studies

a minor term or premise.

minor term or premise

minor suit

• a bid of two no trumps shows strength in the minors

a small drab moth which has purplish caterpillars that feed on grass.

small drab moth

study as or qualify in a subsidiary subject at college or university

study as minor subject

• Clark had minored in Animal Science