minute

/'minit/

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The word "minute" can be used in different ways in English, and it has a couple of main meanings.

1. As an Adjective

When "minute" is used as an adjective, it means something very small or detailed. It describes things that are tiny or require careful attention to detail.

2. As a Noun

When "minute" is a noun, it can refer to a unit of time. One minute is equal to 60 seconds.

Synonyms

• For the adjective meaning: tiny, small, microscopic
• For the noun meaning (time): moment, instant

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• "Just a minute": This is a common phrase used to ask someone to wait a moment.
• "In a minute": This phrase means very soon or shortly.

Word Variants

• The noun form "minutes" (as in meeting notes).
• The adjective form can also be written as "minuscule," which means extremely small.

Conclusion

So, remember that "minute" can mean something very small when used as an adjective, and it refers to time when used as a noun.

Academic

Adjective

1. characterized by painstaking care and detailed examination
   • a minute inspection of the grounds
   • a narrow scrutiny
   • an exact and minute report
2. infinitely or immeasurably small
   • two minute whiplike threads of protoplasm
   • reduced to a microscopic scale

Noun

1. distance measured by the time taken to cover it
   • we live an hour from the airport
   • its just 10 minutes away
2. a short note
   • the secretary keeps the minutes of the meeting
3. a unit of angular distance equal to a 60th of a degree
4. a particular point in time
   • the moment he arrived the party began
5. an indefinitely short time
   • wait just a moment
   • in a mo
   • it only takes a minute
   • in just a bit
6. a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
   • he ran a 4 minute mile

Synonyms

• narrow
• infinitesimal
• hour
• arcminute
• minute of arc
• moment
• second
• instant
• mo
• bit
• min