major
♦♦♦ ma|jor /m'eɪdʒər/ (majors majoring majored)
1 [ADJ] ADJ n
You use major when you want to describe something that is more important, serious, or significant than other things in a group or situation.
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.
= key, crucial
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] oft poss N
At a university or college in the United States, a student's major is the main subject that they are studying.
English majors would be asked to explore the roots of language.
4 [N-COUNT] n N
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.
She was named the outstanding undergraduate history major at the University of Oklahoma.
5 [VERB] V in n
If a student at a university or college in the United States majors in a particular subject, that subject is the main one they study.
He majored in finance at Claremont Men's College in California.
6 [ADJ] n ADJ, ADJ n
In music, a major scale is one in which the third note is two tones higher than the first.
...Mozart's Symphony No 35 in D Major.
≠ minor
7 [N-COUNT] oft n N
A major is a large or important company. (BUSINESS)
Oil majors need not fear being unable to sell their crude.
8 [N-PLURAL] the N
The majors are groups of professional sports teams that compete against each other, especially in American baseball. (mainly AM)
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 ma|jor (drum majors)
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)ma|jor gen|er|al (major generals)
also major-general
[N-COUNT; N-TITLE; N-VOC]
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.ma|jor league (major leagues)
1 [N-PLURAL] the N
The major leagues are groups of professional sports teams that compete against each other, especially in American baseball.
Chandler was instrumental in making Jackie Robinson the first black player in the major leagues.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Major league means connected with the major leagues in baseball.
...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 [PHRASE] Vs inflect
If someone moves into the major league or makes it into the major league, they become very successful in their career. (JOURNALISM)
Once a girl has made it into the major league every detail is mapped out by her agency.ser|geant ma|jor (sergeant majors)
also sergeant-major
[N-COUNT; N-TITLE; N-VOC]
A sergeant major is a non-commissioned army or marine officer of the highest rank.
1 [ADJ] ADJ n
You use major when you want to describe something that is more important, serious, or significant than other things in a group or situation.
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.
= key, crucial
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] oft poss N
At a university or college in the United States, a student's major is the main subject that they are studying.
English majors would be asked to explore the roots of language.
4 [N-COUNT] n N
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.
She was named the outstanding undergraduate history major at the University of Oklahoma.
5 [VERB] V in n
If a student at a university or college in the United States majors in a particular subject, that subject is the main one they study.
He majored in finance at Claremont Men's College in California.
6 [ADJ] n ADJ, ADJ n
In music, a major scale is one in which the third note is two tones higher than the first.
...Mozart's Symphony No 35 in D Major.
≠ minor
7 [N-COUNT] oft n N
A major is a large or important company. (BUSINESS)
Oil majors need not fear being unable to sell their crude.
8 [N-PLURAL] the N
The majors are groups of professional sports teams that compete against each other, especially in American baseball. (mainly AM)
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 ma|jor (drum majors)
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)ma|jor gen|er|al (major generals)
also major-general
[N-COUNT; N-TITLE; N-VOC]
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.ma|jor league (major leagues)
1 [N-PLURAL] the N
The major leagues are groups of professional sports teams that compete against each other, especially in American baseball.
Chandler was instrumental in making Jackie Robinson the first black player in the major leagues.
2 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Major league means connected with the major leagues in baseball.
...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 [PHRASE] Vs inflect
If someone moves into the major league or makes it into the major league, they become very successful in their career. (JOURNALISM)
Once a girl has made it into the major league every detail is mapped out by her agency.ser|geant ma|jor (sergeant majors)
also sergeant-major
[N-COUNT; N-TITLE; N-VOC]
A sergeant major is a non-commissioned army or marine officer of the highest rank.