Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Latin
Origin: 'larger, greater', from magnus 'large, great'

major

1 adjective
     
NEW! See related topics: MUSIC
ma‧jor1 S3 W2
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 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?
4APM 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
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
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