# minute

/ˈmɪnət/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/minute
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. unit of time

noun · CEFR A1

a period of time that lasts 60 seconds.

For teachers: a unit of time equal to one-sixtieth of an hour.

- The eggs need to boil for exactly six minutes to be perfect.
- The train was delayed by only a few minutes, yet the platform was already crowded with frustrated commuters.

### 2. a short time

noun · CEFR A2 · Informal

a very short, often unspecified amount of time.

For teachers: an informal designation for a brief but indefinite duration.

- Wait a minute, I forgot my keys on the kitchen table.
- Could you spare a minute to review these figures before the presentation begins?

### 3. meeting records

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the official written record of what people said and decided at a meeting.

For teachers: the formal written record of the proceedings and resolutions of a meeting.

- The secretary took the minutes during the board meeting.
- After the chairperson approved the minutes of the previous session, the committee moved to the first item on the agenda.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form: 'the minutes'.

### 4. a long time

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · American English · Dialect

a long period of time.

For teachers: a dialectal or slang use referring to a significant or extended duration rather than a short one.

- I haven't seen him in a minute; he looks so different now.
- It has been a minute since we last collaborated on a project of this scale and complexity.

### 5. very small

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

extremely small or tiny.

For teachers: extremely small in size, amount, or degree. Pronounced /maɪˈnjuːt/.

- The machine can detect even minute amounts of dust in the air.
- The forensic team spent hours searching the carpet for minute traces of evidence that might link the suspect to the scene.

Teaching tip: Remind students that the pronunciation changes from the noun (MIN-it) to the adjective (my-NYOOT).

### 6. detailed

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

paying great attention to very small details.

For teachers: characterised by precise and exhaustive attention to small details. Pronounced /maɪˈnjuːt/.

- She gave a minute description of the man she saw running away.
- The contract was subject to minute examination by the legal team to ensure no loopholes remained.

### 7. to record in notes

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

to write down what happens in a meeting.

For teachers: to record the proceedings of a meeting in the official minutes.

- The decision was minuted so that everyone would remember it later.
- The secretary was instructed to minute the dissent of the minority members to ensure a complete historical record of the debate.

Usage: Usually used in administrative or legal contexts.

## Examples

- The train leaves in exactly one minute.
- Please wait just a minute while I finish typing this email and save my work.
- The presentation was timed to the minute to ensure that every speaker had an equal opportunity to address the board before the lunch break.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.