definition
gb/dˌɛfɪnˈɪʃən/ us/dˌɛfɪnˈɪʃən/
A1
English
~ 1600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
quantity
1
Sixty seconds of time
A measure of time that is sixty seconds long.
Usage pattern:
[something] takes [number] minutes
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'minute' with 'moment', but 'minute' is a fixed measure of time while 'moment' is vague.
Synonyms
moment (Less precise; can mean a very short or brief time, not always exactly 60 seconds.)
Antonyms
hour (A longer unit of time equal to 60 minutes.)
Collocations
in a minute
|five minutes
|just a minute
|minutes later
Themes
time
|measurement
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The train will arrive in five minutes.
- It only takes a few minutes to walk there.
- She paused for a minute before answering.
Learner examples
- Wait one minute, please.
- I will call you in two minutes.
- The movie starts in ten minutes.
Noun
B2
entity
2
Tiny amount or detail
A very small part or detail.
Usage pattern:
[something] to the minute detail
Common mistake:
Learners may pronounce this meaning like the time unit; here it is pronounced /maɪˈnjuːt/.
Synonyms
tiny (Describes size generally, not specifically about details.)
Antonyms
large (Describes something big in size or amount.)
Collocations
minute detail
|minute amount
|minute difference
Themes
description
|measurement
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The painting was perfect down to the minute detail.
- There is only a minute difference between the two versions.
- Even the minute particles were visible under the microscope.
Learner examples
- He looked at every minute detail of the plan.
- There is a minute difference between the two shirts.
- We found minute pieces of glass on the floor.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Official meeting notes
Notes that tell what happened in a meeting.
Usage pattern:
to take the minutes of [a meeting]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'minutes' with 'agenda'. The agenda is a plan for what will be discussed; minutes are the record after the meeting.
Synonyms
record (General term for any preserved account; not limited to meetings.)
Antonyms
oral discussion (Spoken conversation without a written record.)
Collocations
take the minutes
|approve the minutes
|meeting minutes
Themes
business
|administration
|work
|communication
Examples
- She was asked to take the minutes during the conference.
- The secretary typed up the minutes and sent them to everyone.
- The board approved the minutes from last month's meeting.
Learner examples
- He takes the minutes at every meeting.
- They read the minutes before starting the new meeting.
- The minutes show what we talked about.
Grammar
Dictionary form
definition
IPA
GB/dˌɛfɪnˈɪʃən/
US/dˌɛfɪnˈɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
defin - i - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (tion)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: definition
- Plural: definition, definitions
Word family
Forms
definitions
noun
Core family
Related words
redefine
verb B2
redefinition
noun
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
definitive
adjective C1
definitively
adverb
Expressions
just a minute
1/d͡ʒˈʌst ə mˈɪnɪt/
fixed phrase
Request to wait briefly
Please wait for a short time.
Examples
- Just a minute, I’ll be right with you.
- Could you hold on for just a minute while I finish this?
up to the minute
1/ˈʌp tə ðə mˈɪnɪt/
fixed phrase
Fully current and updated
Having the most recent and new information.
Examples
- This website gives up-to-the-minute news updates.
- We keep our data up to the minute for accuracy.
at the last minute
1/ˈæt ðə lˈæst mˈɪnɪt/
idiom
Just before it is too late
Doing something just before it is too late or before it must be done.
Examples
- She bought the ticket at the last minute.
- We booked our tickets at the last minute.
- He finished his homework at the last minute before class started.
- He changed his mind at the last minute and didn’t go.