major
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- main, bigger, chief, greater, higher, leading, senior, supreme
- important, critical, crucial, great, notable, outstanding, serious, significant

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Related Words: better, greater, higher, superior

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English Thesaurus: big, large, major, considerable/substantial, huge/massive/enormous, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

Major, John
(1943–) a British politician in the Conservative Party, who became Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher was forced to leave this position in 1990, and was then elected in 1992. During his period as leader, which ended after his party lost the election in 1997, he had the difficult job of trying to settle disagreements in his party about the UK’s position in the European Union. He was thought of by many people as a pleasant man, but rather ‘grey’ (=boring).

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

I. ma‧jor¹ S1 W1 AC /ˈmeɪdʒə $ -ər/ adjective
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Latin; Origin: 'larger, greater', from magnus 'large, great']

1. [usually before noun] having very serious or worrying results Antonym : 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 Antonym : 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?

4. 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

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. major² noun [countable]

1. an officer of middle rank in the British or US army or Marines, or in the US air force ⇒ drum major

2. especially American English the main subject that a student studies at college or university:
Her major is history.

3. American English someone studying a particular subject as their main subject at college or university:
She’s a history major.

4. the majors [plural] the Major Leagues

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. major³ verb
major in something phrasal verb
especially American English to study something as your main subject at college or university:
He’s majoring in Political Science.
major on something phrasal verb
especially British English to pay particular attention to one subject or thing:
The company is planning to major on offering the machines we need.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

major
noun
 ⇒ Note at RANK

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

big:
a big city
a big guy
a big mistake
Lack of funding is the biggest problem.
Getting a car has made a big difference to my life.
large a slightly more formal word than big, used to describe objects and amounts:
a large bowl
Large areas of the forest have been destroyed.
The museum attracts a large number of visitors.
major [only before noun] big and important:
Pollution is a major problem.
There has been a major change in government policy.
considerable/substantial quite big – used especially about amounts:
They have spent a considerable amount of money on the project.
A substantial amount of heat is lost through the windows.
He had a considerable influence on young musicians.
huge/massive/enormous extremely big:
The table was enormous.
a huge explosion
Their house is huge.
There is a huge amount of work to be done.
There has been a massive increase in oil prices.
The company is massive, operating in 150 countries.
A massive fire destroyed more than thirty homes.
He’s been under an enormous amount of stress recently.
The changes will have an enormous impact.
great [only before noun] very big – used especially to describe the level or number of something:
He achieved great success in America.
The college offers a great number of courses.
a great advantage
vast extremely big – used about areas, distances, numbers, or amounts:
vast areas of rainforest
A vast number of tourists visit the island every year.
gigantic extremely big and much bigger than other things of the same type:
Gigantic waves crashed onto the beach.
colossal extremely big – used about amounts or objects:
James ran up a colossal phone bill.
a colossal statue of Napoleon
tremendous having an extremely big effect:
There have been some tremendous changes.
My new job will be a tremendous challenge.
The children were making a tremendous amount of noise.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

important having a big effect on people’s lives or on events in the future:
an important decision
Good qualifications are increasingly important.
big important or serious:
It’s a big decision.
a big problem
significant important enough to be noticeable or have a big effect:
There is no significant difference between the performance of male and female students.
The Internet has brought about significant changes in people’s lives.
noteworthy formal important or interesting enough to deserve your attention:
The castle is the island’s most noteworthy feature.
The jury’s verdict was noteworthy for a number of reasons.
essential very important, especially for the success, health, or safety of someone or something:
It is essential to speak the local language.
essential supplies of food and clothing
vital/crucial extremely important, because without it there could be serious problems:
His evidence was vital to the case.
The US plays a crucial role in the region.
The media are a vital part of the political system.
key extremely important and having a big effect:
Wheeler had a key role in the development of the atom bomb.
Timing is key.
of great/considerable importance very important:
In the construction industry, health and safety are of considerable importance.
momentous very important because it has a very great effect on the future:
Momentous events were taking place in Russia.
a momentous decision
main/chief/principal [only before noun] most important:
What was your main aim?
the principal reason for their decision
the chief cause of the recession
major [usually before noun] one of the most important or serious things:
Smoking is a major cause of heart disease.
Street crime is a major problem.
central/primary [usually before noun] most important – used especially when talking about the main thing that people are discussing, worried about, or trying to do:
Education will be the central issue in the election.
Our primary concern is passenger safety.
paramount /ˈpærəmaʊnt/ formal more important than anything else, so that you must consider it when deciding what to do:
Airport security is of paramount importance.
The needs of the students are paramount.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

main larger or more important than all the others:
the main entrance of the building
the main reason for his decision
chief/principal most important. Chief and principal are more formal than main, and are often used in written English:
Coffee is the country’s principal export.
What is the company’s chief objective?
major very important or serious:
Smoking is a major cause of heart disease.
Street crime is becoming a major problem.
key most important, or the one that everything or everyone else depends on:
Education is likely to be a key issue in the election campaign.
Hooper was a key member of the team.
Diet is key.
number one especially spoken most important or best - this phrase sounds a little informal and it is used especially in spoken English:
Reliability is the number one priority.
the number one cause of death
He is still in the number one position.
primary most important - used especially about the most important aim, role, cause, or concern. Primary is more formal than main:
The primary aim of the project was to help students develop their communication skills.
Security is our primary concern.
The primary function of the university was considered to be the teaching of ‘the great cultural disciplines’.
prime very important or most important - used especially about the most important reason, cause, or aim, or about the most likely target or suspect. Prime is more formal than main:
Their prime objective is to increase profits for their shareholders.
Tourists are prime targets for theft and robbery.
core most important - used especially about the things that people should pay most attention to:
the core skills of reading and writing
He wants the company to focus on its core business - advertising.
The party’s core values are individual freedom and reducing the amount of government bureaucracy.
central most important and having more influence than anything else:
The U.S. played a central role in the peace negotiations.
a central theme of the book
The central question is, why are people still so attached to their cars?
predominant most common, typical, or important:
Yellow was the predominant colour everywhere.
High arched windows are a predominant feature in English churches.
New York still has a predominant role in the contemporary art world.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲