major

adj

1. (attributive)Greater in dignity, rank, importance, significance, or interest.

   “The US supreme court has ruled unanimously that natural human genes cannot be patented, a decision that scientists and civil rights campaigners said removed a major barrier to patient care and medical innovation.”

2. (attributive)Greater in number, quantity, or extent.

   “the major part of the assembly”

3. (attributive)Notable or conspicuous in effect or scope.

   “The building underwent a major renovation.”

4. (attributive)Prominent or significant in size, amount, or degree.

   “to earn some major cash”

   “a major exhibition”

   “I gotta take a whiz test to my PO / I know I failed 'cause I done smoked major weed, bro”

   “[B]y the time I turned back to the screen, Jamie was fully dressed, major bummer.”

5. (attributive)Involving great risk, serious, life-threatening.

   “to suffer from a major illness”

6. Of full legal age, having attained majority.

   “major children”

7. Of or relating to a subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization.
8. Having intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees. (of a scale)

   “major scale”

9. Equivalent to that between the tonic and another note of a major scale, and greater by a semitone than the corresponding minor interval. (of an interval)

   “major third”

10. Equivalent to that between the tonic and another note of a major scale, and greater by a semitone than the corresponding minor interval. (of an interval)

    “major triad”

11. (postpositional)(of a key) Based on a major scale, tending to produce a bright or joyful effect.
12. Bell changes rung on eight bells.
13. (UK, dated)Indicating the elder of two brothers (or the eldest of three), appended to a surname in public schools.
14. Occurring as the predicate in the conclusion of a categorical syllogism. (of a term)
15. Containing the major term in a categorical syllogism. (of a premise)

noun

1. A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, between captain and lieutenant colonel.

   “He used to be a major in the army.”

2. A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, between captain and lieutenant colonel.
3. A person of legal age.
4. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis)Ellipsis of major key.
5. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis)Ellipsis of major interval.
6. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis)Ellipsis of major scale.
7. A system of change-ringing using eight bells.
8. A large, commercially successful company, especially a record label that is bigger than an indie.

   “At the end of last year, the band re-signed to XL for another three albums, despite being chased by majors that included Island, says manager Mike Champion of Midi Management.”

9. (Australia, Canada, New-Zealand, US)The principal subject or course of a student working toward a degree at a college or university.

   “Midway through his second year of college, he still hadn't chosen a major.”

10. (Australia, Canada, New-Zealand, US)The principal subject or course of a student working toward a degree at a college or university.

    “She is a math major.”

11. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis)Ellipsis of major term.
12. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis)Ellipsis of major premise.
13. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis)Ellipsis of major suit.
14. (Canadian)A touchdown, or major score.
15. A goal.
16. (British, dated, slang)An elder brother (especially at a public school).
17. A large leaf-cutter ant that acts as a soldier, defending the nest.
18. (alt-of, alternative, obsolete)Alternative form of mayor and mair.
19. Title for an army officer with the rank of major.

verb

1. (intransitive)Used in a phrasal verb: major in.

name

1. (countable, uncountable)A surname.
2. (countable, uncountable)An unincorporated community in Owsley County, Kentucky, United States.
3. (countable, uncountable)A village in the Rural Municipality of Prairiedale, No. 321, Saskatchewan, Canada.