major

important, majeur

Assez grand, grave ou important pour avoir un effet considérable.

En anglais simple : Large, serious, or important enough to have a strong effect.

• We have a major problem.
• The storm caused major damage to the town.
• She played a major role in the decision.

Synonymes : important, significant, big

Contraires : minor

Expressions courantes : major problem, major change, major role

majeur

Se dit d’une gamme ou d’un accord majeur, ou d’un intervalle plus large que son équivalent mineur.

En anglais simple : Describing a musical scale or related chord, or certain intervals that are wider than the corresponding minor ones.

• The song is in a major key.
• She played a major chord on the piano.
• A major third is wider than a minor third.

Contraires : minor

Expressions courantes : major scale, major chord, major third

majeur, principal

Qui dépasse le reste en quantité, en taille ou en nombre.

En anglais simple : Greater in amount, size, or number than the remaining part.

• We spent the major part of our budget.
• The major portion of the land belongs to her family.
• Repair costs took the major share of the available funds.

Synonymes : greater, larger

Contraires : minor

Expressions courantes : major part, major portion, major share

majeur

Qui a atteint l’âge auquel la loi considère une personne comme adulte.

En anglais simple : Old enough to be legally treated as an adult.

• His son is now major.
• The document distinguishes major children from minor children.
• Only legally major applicants may sign this agreement.

Synonymes : adult, of age

Contraires : minor

Expressions courantes : major child, legally major

spécialité, discipline principale

Matière qu’un étudiant choisit comme domaine principal à l’université.

En anglais simple : The main subject a student studies at a college or university.

• My major is history.
• She changed her major to chemistry.
• Have you chosen a major yet?

Synonymes : main subject

Contraires : minor

Expressions courantes : college major, choose a major, biology major

commandant

Officier dont le grade se situe au-dessus de capitaine et au-dessous de lieutenant-colonel.

En anglais simple : A military officer whose rank is above captain and below lieutenant colonel.

• He is a major in the army.
• She was promoted to major last year.
• The major ordered the soldiers to wait.

Expressions courantes : army major, retired major

majeur

Personne qui a atteint l’âge légal pour être considérée comme adulte.

En anglais simple : A person who is legally old enough to be treated as an adult.

• The law considers her a major.
• Majors can sign these contracts without parental permission.
• The form asks whether the applicant is a major or a minor.

Synonymes : adult

Contraires : minor

Expressions courantes : a legal major, major or minor

se spécialiser

Étudier une matière comme domaine principal à l’université.

En anglais simple : To study one subject as your main area at a college or university.

• I major in chemistry.
• He majored in history at college.
• Will you major in music or art?

Comment l'utiliser : major in something (She plans to major in economics.)

Synonymes : specialize

Expressions courantes : major in something, major in biology