major

Meanings

Adjective

• Of full legal age, having attained majority.
• Of or relating to a subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization.
• Indicating the elder of two brothers, .

Noun

• A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, between captain and lieutenant colonel.
• A person of legal age.
• A large, commercially successful company, especially a record label that is bigger than an indie.
• The principal subject or course of a student working toward a degree at a college or university.
• A touchdown, or major score.
• A goal.
• An elder brother (especially at a public school).
• A large leaf-cutter ant that acts as a soldier, defending the nest.

Related

Opposite words

• minor

Origin

• From Middle English major, from Latin maior, comparative of magnus, from Proto-Indo-European *maǵ-yes- ("greater"), comparative of *maǵ-, *meǵ-. Compare West Frisian majoar ("major"), Dutch majoor ("major"), French majeur. mayor.