minute

minute

minute¹ [min′it]

n.

[OFr < ML minuta < L (pars) minuta (prima), (first) small (part), term used by Ptolemy for the sixtieth part of a unit in his system of fractions (of the circle, radius, day, later applied also to the hour): see MINUTE²]

1. the sixtieth part of any of certain units; specif., ¹/ ₆₀

2.

a) of an hour; sixty seconds¹/ ₆₀

b) of a degree of an arc; sixty seconds: symbol, ′

3. a very short period of time; moment; instant

4. a specific point in time

5. a measure of the distance usually covered in a minute [five minutes from downtown]

6.

a) a note or memorandum

b) [pl.] an official record of what was said and done at a meeting, convention, etc.

vt.

minuted, minuting

1. to time to the minute

2.

a) to make a minute, or memorandum, of; record

b) to put in the minutes of a meeting, etc.

——————

the minute that or the minute

just as soon as

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up to the minute

in the latest style, fashion, etc.

minute² [mī no͞ot′, mīnyo͞ot′; mino͞ot′, minyo͞ot′]

adj.

[ME < L minutus, little, small, pp. of minuere, to lessen, diminish < minor: see MINOR]

1. very small; tiny

2. of little importance or significance; petty; trifling

3. of, characterized by, or attentive to tiny details; exact; precise

SYN.- SMALL

minuteness

n.