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Definition of minor noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

minor

noun
 
/ˈmaɪnə(r)/
 
/ˈmaɪnər/
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  1. (law) a person who is under the age at which you legally become an adult and are responsible for your actions
    • It is an offence to serve alcohol to minors.
    Homophones miner | minorminer   minor
     
    /ˈmaɪnə(r)/
     
    /ˈmaɪnər/
    • miner noun
      • He started work as a coal miner at 14.
    • minor adjective
      • The novel is now regarded as a minor classic.
    • minor noun
      • She arrived in the country as an unaccompanied minor.
    Topics Life stagesc2
  2. (especially North American English) a subject that you study at university in addition to your majorTopics Educationc1
  3. Word OriginMiddle English: from Latin, ‘smaller, less’; related to minuere ‘lessen’. The term originally denoted a Franciscan friar, suggested by the Latin name Fratres Minores (‘Lesser Brethren’), chosen by St Francis for the order.
See minor in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee minor in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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