major (majors plural & 3rd person present) (majoring present participle) (majored past tense & past participle )
1 adj You use major when you want to describe something that is more important, serious, or significant than other things in a group or situation.
ADJ n
(=key, crucial)
The major factor in the decision to stay or to leave was usually professional..., Drug abuse has long been a major problem for the authorities there..., Exercise has a major part to play in preventing and combating disease.
2 n-count; n-title; n-voc A major is an officer who is one rank above captain in the British army or the United States army, air force, or marines.
...Major Alan Bulman.
3 n-count At a university or college in the United States, a student's major is the main subject that they are studying.
oft poss N
English majors would be asked to explore the roots of language.
4 n-count At a university or college in the United States, if a student is, for example, a geology major, geology is the main subject they are studying.
n N
She was named the outstanding undergraduate history major at the University of Oklahoma.
5 verb If a student at a university or college in the United States majorsin a particular subject, that subject is the main one they study.
He majored in finance at Claremont Men's College in California. V in n
6 adj In music, a major scale is one in which the third note is two tones higher than the first.
n ADJ, ADJ n (Antonym: minor)
...Mozart's Symphony No 35 in D Major.
7 n-count A major is a large or important company. (BUSINESS) oft n N
Oil majors need not fear being unable to sell their crude.
8 n-plural The majors are groups of professional sports teams that compete against each other, especially in American baseball.
(mainly AM) the N
I knew what I could do in the minor leagues, I just wanted a chance to prove myself in the majors.
9 n-count A major is an important sporting competition, especially in golf or tennis. Sarazen became the first golfer to win all four majors.
drum major (drum majors plural )
1 n-count A drum major is a sergeant in the army who is in charge of the drummers in a military band, or who leads the band when they are marching.
(BRIT)
2 n-count A drum major is a man who leads a marching band by walking in front of them.
(AM)
major general (major generals plural ), major-general In Britain, a major general is a senior officer in the army, one rank above a brigadier. In the United States, a major general is a senior officer in the army, air force, or marines, one rank above brigadier general. n-count; n-title; n-voc
major league (major leagues plural )
1 n-plural The major leagues are groups of professional sports teams that compete against each other, especially in American baseball.
the N
Chandler was instrumental in making Jackie Robinson the first black player in the major leagues.
2 adj Major league means connected with the major leagues in baseball.
usu ADJ n
...a town with no major league baseball.
3 adj Major league people or institutions are important or successful.
James Hawes's first film boasts major-league stars.
4 If someone moves into the major league or makes it into the major league, they become very successful in their career. (JOURNALISM)
move into the major league/make it into the major league phrase Vs inflect
Once a girl has made it into the major league every detail is mapped out by her agency.
sergeant major (sergeant majors plural ), sergeant-major A sergeant major is a non-commissioned army or marine officer of the highest rank. n-count; n-title; n-voc
