major

adjective

OPAL W OPAL S

/ˈmeɪdʒə(r)/

/ˈmeɪdʒər/

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[usually before noun] very large or important主要的；重要的；大的
- a major road一条大马路
- Some major international companies refused to do business with them.一些主要的国际公司拒绝与他们做生意。
- He played a major role in setting up the system.他在建立这个系统的过程中起了主要的作用。
- major sporting events大型体育活动
- a major issue/factor/project/challenge主要问题/因素/项目/挑战
- We have encountered major problems.我们遇上了大问题。
- Four major cities will remove diesel cars by 2025.到2025年，四大城市将淘汰柴油车。
- There were calls for major changes to the welfare system.有人要求对福利制度进行重大改革。
opposite minor
Synonyms main
main
- major
- key
- central
- principal
- chief
- prime
These words all describe somebody/something that is the largest or most important of its kind.
- main [only before noun] largest or most important:
  Be careful crossing the main road.过大马路时小心点。
  The main thing is to remain calm.最重要的是要保持冷静。
- major [usually before noun] very large or important:
  He played a major role in setting up the system.他在建立这个系统的过程中起了主要的作用。
  When major is used with the or my/your/his/her/our/their it means ‘the largest or most important’: Our major concern here is combating poverty. In this meaning it is only used to talk about ideas or worries that people have, not physical things, and it is also more formal than main: Be careful crossing the major road. • The major thing is to remain calm.
- key [usually before noun] most important; essential:
  He was a key figure in the campaign.他是这场运动的关键人物。
  Key is used most frequently in business and political contexts. It can be used to talk about ideas, or the part that somebody plays in a situation, but not physical things. It is slightly more informal than major, especially when used after a noun and linking verb: Speed is key at this point.
- central (rather formal) most important:指最重要的、首要的、主要的：
  The central issue is that of widespread racism.最重要的问题是种族主义到处泛滥。
  Central is used in a similar way to key, but is more formal. It is most frequently used in the phrase something is central to something else.
- principal [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:指最重要的、首要的、主要的：
  The principal reason for this omission is lack of time.跳过它的主要原因是时间不足。
  Principal is mostly used for statements of fact about which there can be no argument. To state an opinion, or to try to persuade somebody of the facts as you see them, it is more usual to use key or central: The key/central issue here is…
- chief [only before noun] (rather formal) most important:指最重要的、首要的、主要的：
  Unemployment was the chief cause of poverty.失业是贫穷的主要原因。
- prime [only before noun] (rather formal) most important; to be considered first:
  My prime concern is to protect my property.我最关心的是保护自己的财产。
Patterns
- a/the main/major/key/central/principal/chief/prime aim/concern
- a/the main/major/principal road/town/city
- the main/key thing is to…
- to be of major/key/central/prime importance
Extra Examples
- He had major surgery on his back and moves slowly.他背部做了大手术，行动缓慢。
- Our major concern here is combating poverty.我们在这方面的主要关切是消除贫困。
- The openness of the internet is a major part of its appeal.互联网的开放性是其吸引力的主要部分。
- These companies are all major players in the food industry.这些公司都是食品行业的主要参与者。
[not before noun] serious严重
- Never mind—it's not major.别担心，这不严重。
(music音乐) based on a scale (= a series of eight notes) in which the third note is two whole tones / steps higher than the first note大调的
- the key of D majorD 大调
- the eight notes of the major scale大音阶的八个音符
compare minorTopics Musicc1
(North American English) related to somebody’s main subject of study in college（课程）主修的

Word OriginMiddle English: from Latin, comparative of magnus ‘great’; perhaps influenced by French majeur.

major

noun

/ˈmeɪdʒə(r)/

/ˈmeɪdʒər/

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[countable]
(abbreviation Maj.)
an officer of fairly high rank in the army or the US air force少校
- Major Smith史密斯少校
- He's a major in the US army.他是美国陆军少校。
see also drum major, sergeant majorTopics War and conflictc1
[countable] (North American English) the main subject or course of a student at college or university主修课程；专业课
- Her major is French.她的专业课是法语。
compare minor
Wordfinder
Topics Educationc1
[countable] (North American English) a student studying a particular subject as the main part of their course主修学生；主修生
- She's a French major.她是法语专业的学生。
Topics Educationc1
a major organization or competition严重
- The output of the big five oil majors has fallen in recent years.五大石油巨头的产量近年来有所下降。
- The greatest achievement in tennis is to win all four majors in a single year.网球最大的成就是一年内把四个专业都拿下。
CultureThe Majors is the name given to the four most important tournaments (= sports competitions) in golf. They are the British Open, the US Open, the US Masters Tournament and the US PGA Championship.The term Majors is also sometimes used for the four most important tournaments in tennis, also called the Grand Slams. They are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
the majors
[plural] (North American English, sport体育) the major leagues大联盟

Word OriginMiddle English: from Latin, comparative of magnus ‘great’; perhaps influenced by French majeur.

major

verb

/ˈmeɪdʒə(r)/

/ˈmeɪdʒər/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they major	/ˈmeɪdʒə(r)/ /ˈmeɪdʒər/
he / she / it majors	/ˈmeɪdʒəz/ /ˈmeɪdʒərz/
past simple majored	/ˈmeɪdʒəd/ /ˈmeɪdʒərd/
past participle majored	/ˈmeɪdʒəd/ /ˈmeɪdʒərd/
-ing form majoring	/ˈmeɪdʒərɪŋ/ /ˈmeɪdʒərɪŋ/