major

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Music

ma·jor1 /ˈmeɪdʒə $ -ər/ S1 W1 AWL adjective 1 [usually before noun]SERIOUS SITUATION having very serious or worrying results 重大的，严重的 OPP minor There is a major problem with parking in London. 在伦敦，停车是个很大的问题。 The loss of their goalkeeper through injury was a major setback for the team. 守门员因伤缺阵使该队的实力大打折扣。 He underwent major heart surgery recently. 他最近做了心脏大手术。 It could have sparked a major confrontation. 此事险些导致一场严重的冲突。► see thesaurus at important, main2 [usually before noun]IMPORTANT very large or important, when compared to other things or people of a similar kind 大的，重要的，主要的 OPP minormajor role/part/factor etc Britain played a major role in the negotiations. 英国在谈判中起了重要作用。 There are two major political parties in the US. 美国有两大政党。 The government’s major concern is with preventing road accidents. 政府关注的大事是预防道路交通事故。 Smoking is one of the major causes of cancer. 吸烟是引发癌症的元凶之一。 the major developments in computer technology 计算机技术的重大进步 a major road 干道► see thesaurus at big3 [not before noun] American English spokenIMPORTANT very important 非常重要的 This is major? You got me out of bed for this? 这就叫做重要？你把我从床上叫起来就是为了这个？4 APMa major key is based on a musical scale in which there are semitones between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth notes 〔音乐〕大音阶的，大调的 → minor a symphony in D major D大调交响乐

Examples from the Corpus

major• Another major advantage is the insight it is capable of yielding into the social and communicative norms of the community.• The Spittal camp was round another major bend of the river, the last one, and not actually in sight.• The film still had nominees in all other major categories, including acting, directing and writing.• Smoking is a major cause of heart disease.• Gang activity that was limited to major cities has now spilled over to towns and rural areas.• Most major credit cards are accepted.• The dollar rose against a basket of 10 major currencies tracked by Finex, a financial futures exchange.• I thought we agreed to talk to each other before making any major decisions.• It's the chief executive who makes all the major decisions.• Tonight T-I again assured Dowty employees that there would be no major job losses.• An experienced producer at a major London agency was recently asked to list them for the benefit of newcomers.• Nuclear weapons are a major obstacle on the road to peace.• Confidence is a major part of leadership.• You have to grasp a major point.• Heavy traffic is a major problem in most cities.• I have to go on a major shopping trip before I start this job.• All the world's major sporting events can be seen on HHS TV.• She's had major surgery, but she's doing fine.• Think carefully before you decide on such a major undertaking.major role/part/factor etc• However, there will be environmental pressures on packaging and this is going to be a major factor.• One major factor in causing seasonal variations in food supplies was the difficulty of storage.• There is no doubt that they played a major part in maintaining interest in abolition and emancipation through different phases of antislavery.• Anti-smoking activists are especially displeased that tobacco money will be playing a major part in the conventions.• This aggressive religious interference in Sri Lanka is a major factor in the destabilisation of the country.• Previously Warriors played a major role in the land war in the Gulf.• In fact, Santorini is the major part of it.• This leaves the east of the town, the heart of the City Challenge area, forming a major part of Middlesbrough.

Related topics: Military, College

major2 noun [countable] 1. PMan officer of middle rank in the British or US army or marines, or in the US air force 少校 → drum major2 especially American EnglishSEC the main subject that a student studies at college or university 〔大学的〕主修科目，专业 Her major is history. 她的主修科目是历史。3 American EnglishSEC someone studying a particular subject as their main subject at college or university 〔大学中〕主修某科目的学生，某专业的学生 She’s a history major. 她是历史专业的学生。4. the majors [plural]DSB the Major Leagues 〔美国〕职业棒球大联盟，职业棒球联合总会

Examples from the Corpus

major• He would be going on to college and a major in Romance languages after high school.• One reason: a sharp drop in the number of undergraduate students choosing economics as a major.• I'm changing my major to political science.• Greg is a philosophy major.• I think it made him think about the majors in a different way.• All the majors and two of the mini-majors set up production subsidiaries in London.• That said, Therapy?'s move from minor to major has reaped well-deserved rewards.• "What was your major?" "Political Science".major3 verb 1 major in something phrasal verb especially American EnglishSEC to study something as your main subject at college or university 〔在大学〕主修 He’s majoring in Political Science. 他主修政治学。2 major on something phrasal verb especially British English to pay particular attention to one subject or thing 专门研究，着重于〔一个课题或问题〕 The company is planning to major on offering the machines we need. 这家公司正在计划专门提供我们所需的机械。→ See Verb tableFrom Longman Business Dictionarymajorma‧jor1 /ˈmeɪdʒə-ər/ adjective [only before a noun]1very large or important when compared with other companies, countries, activities etc of a similar kinda major New York banka meeting of the seven major industrialized nationsThe company is currently undergoing a major restructuring.2very seriousThe company’s major problem was its reliance on the big UK market.There are no major safety concerns with this product.majormajor2 noun [countable usually plural] a very important company in a particular industryThe majors are taking market share away from smaller companies.the Hollywood majorsthe Japanese oil majorsOrigin major1 (1200-1300) Latin “larger, greater”, from magnus “large, great”

ma·jor1 adjectivemajor2 nounmajor3 verbChineseSyllable

very Business Corpus or serious results worrying having

Major
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).

major

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
OPP 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
   OPP 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

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

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.

adjective,

noun,

verb

🔑 major AW

BrE

/ˈmeɪdʒə(r)/

🔊

NAmE

/ˈmeɪdʒər/

🔊

adjective

🔑

[usually before noun]

very large or important 主要的；重要的；大的

◆a major road一条大马路

◆major international companies大跨国公司

◆to play a major role in sth在某事中起重要作用

◆We have encountered major problems. 我们遇上了大问题。

🔊

◆There were calls for major changes to the welfare system. 有人要求对福利制度进行重大改革。

🔊

OPP

minor

<titled tranID="44" status="1">main</titled>major ◇ key ◇ central ◇ principal ◇ chief ◇ prime

These words all describe sb/sth that is the largest or most important of its kind. 以上各词均用以形容主要的、最重要的人或事物。

main [only before noun] largest or most important 指主要的、最重要的：◆Be careful crossing the main road. 过大马路时小心点。◆The main thing is to remain calm. 最重要的是要保持冷静。
major [usually before noun] very large or important 指主要的、重要的、大的：◆He played a major role in setting up the system. 他在建立这个系统的过程中起了主要的作用。 NOTE Major is most often used after a with a singular noun, or no article with a plural noun. When it is used with the or my/your/his/her/our/their it means 'the largest or most important'. * major 最常用于不定冠词 a 之后，与单数名词连用；或不用冠词，与复数名词连用。major 与 the 或 my/your/his/her/our/their 连用时意为最主要的、最重要的：◆Our major concern here is combatting poverty. 在这里我们最关心的是解决贫穷问题。 In this meaning it is only used to talk about ideas or worries that people have, not physical things, and it is also more formal than main. 在该含义中 major 只用以指人的想法或担忧，而非物质的东西，且较 main 正式：◆Be careful crossing the major road.◆The major thing is to remain calm.
key [usually before noun] most important; essential 指最重要的、主要的、关键的：◆He was a key figure in the campaign. 他是这场运动的关键人物。 NOTE Key is used most frequently in business and political contexts. It can be used to talk about ideas, or the part that sb plays in a situation, but not physical things. It is slightly more informal than major, especially when used after a noun and linking verb. * key 最常用于商务和政治语境，可用来形容想法或某人在某情势下起的作用，而非物质的东西。key 较 major 稍非正式，用于名词加连系动词后尤其如此：◆Speed is key at this point. 在这个时候速度是关键。
central (rather formal) most important 指最重要的、首要的、主要的：◆The central issue is that of widespread racism. 最重要的问题是种族主义泛滥。 NOTE Central is used in a similar way to key, but is more formal. It is most frequently used in the phrase sth is central to sth else. * central 与 key 用法相似，但更正式，最常用于 be central to 短语中。
principal [only before noun] (rather formal) most important 指最重要的、主要的：◆The principal reason for this omission is lack of time. 跳过它的主要原因是时间不足。 NOTE Principal is mostly used for statements of fact about which there can be no argument. To state an opinion, or to try to persuade sb of the facts as you see them, it is more usual to use key or central. * principal 主要用于陈述无可争辩的事实。表明意见或说服别人相信你所见到的事实，较常用 key 或 central：◆The key/central issue here is… 这里的关键问题是…
chief [only before noun] (rather formal) most important 指最重要的、首要的、主要的：◆Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty. 失业是贫穷的主要原因。
prime [only before noun] (rather formal) most important; to be considered first 指主要的、首要的：◆My prime concern is to protect my property. 我最关心的是保护自己的财产。