the sixtieth part (1/60) of an hour; sixty seconds.
2.
an indefinitely short space of time: Wait a minute!
3.
an exact point in time; instant; moment: Come here this minute!
4.
minutes, the official record of the proceedings at a meeting of a society, committee, or other group.
5.
Chiefly British. a written summary, note, or memorandum.
6.
a rough draft, as of a document.
7.
Geometry. the sixtieth part of a degree of angular measure, often represented by the sign ', as in 12° 10', which is read as 12 degrees and 10 minutes. Compare angle1(def. 1c).
–verb (used with object)
8.
to time exactly, as movements or speed.
9.
to make a draft of (a document or the like).
10.
to record in a memorandum; note down.
11.
to enter in the minutes of a meeting.
–adjective
12.
prepared in a very short time: minute pudding.
—Idiom
13.
up to the minute, modern; up-to-date: The building design is up to the minute.
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < ML minūta, n. use of fem. of minūtusminute2]
—Synonyms 2. jiffy, second. Minute,instant,moment refer to small amounts of time. A minute, properly denoting 60 seconds, is often used loosely for any very short space of time (and may be interchangeable with second): I'll be there in just a minute. An instant is practically a point in time, with no duration, though it is also used to mean a perceptible amount of time: not an instant's delay. Moment denotes much the same as instant, though with a somewhat greater sense of duration (but somewhat less than minute): It will only take a moment.
A unit of time equal to one sixtieth of an hour, or 60 seconds.
A unit of angular measurement equal to one sixtieth of a degree, or 60 seconds. Also called minute of arc.
A measure of the distance one can cover in a minute: lives ten minutes from school.
A short interval of time; moment. See Synonyms at moment.
A specific point in time: Stop that this minute!
A note or summary covering points to be remembered; a memorandum.
minutes An official record of the proceedings of a meeting.
tr.v.
min·ut·ed, min·ut·ing, min·utes
To record in a memorandum or the minutes of a meeting.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin (pars) minūta (prīma), (first) minute (part), from Latin minūta, feminine of minūtus, small; see minute2.]
1377, "sixtieth part of an hour," from O.Fr. minut, from M.L. minuta "minute, short note," from L. minuta, fem. of minutus "small, minute" (see minute (adj.)). In M.L., pars minuta prima "first small part" was used by mathematician Ptolemy for one-sixtieth of a circle, later of an hour (next in order was secunda minuta, which became second (n.)). The pl. minutes "record of proceedings" developed c.1710, perhaps from L. minuta scriptura "rough notes," lit. "small writing."
c.1420, "chopped small," from L. minutus "small," pp. of minuere "lessen," related to minor (q.v.). Meaning "very small in size or degree" is attested from c.1626.
A unit of time equal to 1/60 of an hour or 60 seconds. ◇ A sidereal minute is 1/60 of a sidereal hour, and a mean solar minute is 1/60 of a mean solar hour. See more at sidereal time, solar time.
A unit of angular measurement, such as longitude or right ascension, that is equal to 1/60 of a degree or 60 seconds.
Cir`cum*stan"tial\, a. [Cf. F. circonstanciel.]1. Consisting in, or pertaining to, circumstances or particular incidents. The usual character of human testimony is substantial truth under circumstantial variety. --Paley. 2. Incidental; relating to, but not essential. We must therefore distinguish between the essentials in religious worship . . . and what is merely circumstantial. --Sharp. 3. Abounding with circumstances; detailing or exhibiting all the circumstances; minute; particular. Tedious and circumstantial recitals. --Prior. Circumstantial evidence (Law), evidence obtained from circumstances, which necessarily or usually attend facts of a particular nature, from which arises presumption. According to some authorities circumstantial is distinguished from positive evidence in that the latter is the testimony of eyewitnesses to a fact or the admission of a party; but the prevalent opinion now is that all such testimony is dependent on circumstances for its support. All testimony is more or less circumstantial. --Wharton. Syn: See Minute.
Com"mi*nute\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comminuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Comminuting.] [L. comminutus, p. p. of comminuere to comminute; com- + minuere to lessen. See Minute.] To reduce to minute particles, or to a fine powder; to pulverize; to triturate; to grind; as, to comminute chalk or bones; to comminute food with the teeth. --Pennant. Comminuted fracture. See under Fracture.
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