minor
gb/mˈaɪnɚ/ us/mˈaɪnɚ/
A2
English
~ 2100
kiskorú, kisebb, mellékszak, moll, kis
NOUN
A2
1
kiskorú
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a minor
The club does not allow minors inside after 9 p.m.
A klub este 9 után nem enged be kiskorúakat.
As a minor, she could not sign the contract herself.
Kiskorúként nem írhatta alá saját maga a szerződést.
The law protects minors from certain types of advertising.
Learner examples
He is a minor and cannot drink alcohol.
Kiskorú, ezért nem ihat alkoholt.
Minors need their parents' permission to travel alone.
A kiskorúaknak szülői engedélyre van szükségük ahhoz, hogy egyedül utazzanak.
She is a minor, so she cannot vote.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'minor' with 'miner' (a person who works in a mine).
Meaning
Person not legally an adult
Collocations
underage minor
|protect minors
|minor offense by a minor
Synonyms
underage person (More descriptive and explicit; often used in legal or formal contexts.)
Antonyms
adult (An adult is legally recognized as fully grown and responsible.)
Themes
law
|family
|society
Definition
Someone who is not yet an adult by law.
A person who has not yet reached the age at which they are legally considered an adult, usually 18 or 21 depending on the country.
A2
2
kisebb
A2
Usage pattern:
[something] is a minor [issue/problem/change]
She suffered only a minor injury in the accident.
A balesetben csak kisebb sérülést szenvedett.
There are a few minor changes to the schedule.
Néhány kisebb változás van az időbeosztásban.
He played a minor role in the movie.
Learner examples
This is a minor problem.
Ez csak egy kisebb probléma.
I made a minor mistake.
Egy kisebb hibát követtem el.
He has a minor cut on his hand.
Meaning
Less important or serious
Collocations
minor problem
|minor change
|minor role
|minor injury
Synonyms
small ('Small' refers to size generally, not necessarily importance.)
|
insignificant ('Insignificant' is stronger in meaning and can sound more dismissive.)
Antonyms
major ('Major' means much more important or serious.)
Themes
daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not big or important.
Not very important, serious, or significant compared to others of its kind.
NOUN
B1
3
mellékszak
C1
Usage pattern:
[someone] has a minor in [subject]
She majored in biology and had a minor in chemistry.
Biológiát tanult főszakként, a kémiát pedig mellékszakként vette fel.
He's considering declaring a minor in economics.
Azon gondolkodik, hogy a közgazdaságtant választja mellékszaknak.
My minor in art history helped me get this job.
Learner examples
I have a minor in English literature.
Angol irodalomból van mellékszakom.
She wants to choose psychology as her minor.
A pszichológiát szeretné mellékszaknak választani.
He studied physics as his minor.
Meaning
Secondary subject in college
Collocations
declare a minor
|have a minor in
|choose a minor
Synonyms
subsidiary subject (More formal and less common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
major ('Major' is the main subject of study.)
Themes
education
Definition
A subject you study in college that is less important than your main subject.
A secondary area of academic specialization that a student studies in addition to their main field (major) at a college or university.
B2
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
[something] is in a minor key
"Greensleeves" is written in a minor key.
A „Greensleeves” moll hangnemben íródott.
"A minor" is one of my favorite keys to play in.
Az „a-moll” az egyik kedvenc hangnemem, amelyben játszani szeretek.
"D minor" has been called the saddest of all keys.
Learner examples
"Happy Birthday" is not in a minor key.
A „Happy Birthday” nem moll hangnemben van.
"This song is in A minor."
Ez a dal a-moll hangnemben van.
"Minor chords can sound sad."
Meaning
(Music) Having a sad sound due to scale structure
Collocations
minor chord
|minor key
|minor scale
Synonyms
(none)
Antonyms
(none)
Themes
music
|arts_entertainment
Definition
(Music) A type of scale or key that often sounds sad.
(In music) Relating to or denoting a scale, interval, or key based on a lowered third degree, often perceived as sad or somber in tone.
Grammar
Dictionary form
minor
IPA
GB/mˈaɪnɚ/
US/mˈaɪnɚ/
Syllables & stress
minor (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (minor)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: minor
Noun
- Base: minor
- Plural: minors
Word family
Expressions
in the minor leagues
1/ˈɪn ðə mˈaɪnɚ lˈiɡz/
idiom
informal
At a lower level of skill or importance
To be at a lower level than the top group.
Examples
- He's still in the minor leagues, but he's improving.
- When it comes to cooking, I'm definitely in the minor leagues.
minor details
1/mˈaɪnɚ dˈiteɪlz/
fixed phrase
Small, unimportant pieces of information
Information that is not very important.
Examples
- Let's skip the minor details and get to the point.
- We talked about the plan without going into the minor details.
minor role
1/mˈaɪnɚ ɹˈoʊl/
fixed phrase
Small or less important part in performance
A part in a play or movie that is not very important.
Examples
- He only had a minor role in the film.
- She played a minor role in the success of the project.