minor

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Law

n. a person who is not yet an adult in the eyes of the law, usually under 18.

n. a person who has not yet reached the age of legal majority and is therefore subject to specific legal protections and restrictions.

“It is illegal to sell alcohol to a minor in most countries.”

“The court appointed a legal guardian to represent the interests of the minor during the inheritance dispute.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Education American English

n. a second subject that a student studies at university, which requires fewer classes than their main subject.

n. a formally recognized secondary area of undergraduate study requiring fewer credits than a major.

“She is doing a major in History with a minor in French.”

“Choosing a minor in Statistics proved beneficial for his career in social research, providing him with essential quantitative skills.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Education American English

v. to study a specific second subject at university.

v. to pursue a secondary academic discipline as an undergraduate student; almost exclusively used with the preposition 'in'.

“I decided to minor in Economics because I thought it would help me find a job.”

“He chose to minor in Philosophy to complement his primary studies in Physics, hoping to explore the theoretical foundations of science.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Music

adj. describes a scale or key that often sounds sad or serious to the listener.

adj. relating to a scale or key based on a musical mode containing a minor third; often contrasted with 'major' in Western tonal music.

“The song is written in a minor key, which gives it a very sad feeling.”

“The composer transitioned from a bright C major opening to a haunting melody in A minor to evoke a sense of longing.”