1
a
: the 60th part of an hour of time : 60 seconds
b
: the 60th part of a degree of angular measure
Its latitude is 41 degrees 55 minute north.
2
: the distance one can traverse in a minute
Five minutes down the road is a gas station.
3
: a short space of time : moment
Dinner will be ready in just a few minutes.
4
a
: a brief note (as of summary or recommendation)
He received a minute of instructions.
b
: memorandum, draft
sent the president a minute explaining the problem
c
minutes plural
: the official record of the proceedings of a meeting
The secretary read the minutes of the previous meeting.
minuter; minutest
1
: very small : infinitesimal
2
: of small importance : trifling
3
: marked by close attention to details
minuteness
noun
minuted; minuting
: to make notes or a brief summary of
Synonyms
Examples of minute in a Sentence
Noun
Bake the cake for 25–30 minutes.
We waited for several minutes, but no one came to the door.
I saw him a minute ago.
Dinner will be ready in just a few minutes.
One minute it was sunny, the next it was pouring rain.
My house is just a few minutes from here.
The secretary read the minutes of the last meeting.
Adjective
There were minute particles of dust in the air.
The test detected minute amounts of contamination.
The equipment is able to detect the minutest errors.
She told him what happened in minute detail.
a minute examination of the evidence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024
By the end of the night, the Anteaters had held a double-digit lead for the final 32 minutes and limited the Lions to 33% shooting (20 for 60) and 27% (7 for 26) from long range.
—Staff and News Service Reports, Orange County Register, 12 Nov. 2024
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024
Across the 20-or-so minute conversation, the Haitian-American star re-emphasized her hurt following former president Donald Trump’s claims that Haitian immigrants were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio while debating Harris on ABC News on Sept. 10.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See all Example Sentences for minute 
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Noun
Including a Heat team playing sans Jimmy Butler, and even a Portland team that didn’t have Deandre Ayton or Anfernee Simons, the latter got hurt after playing just five minutes in Tuesday’s bout.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024
By the end of the night, the Anteaters had held a double-digit lead for the final 32 minutes and limited the Lions to 33% shooting (20 for 60) and 27% (7 for 26) from long range.
—Staff and News Service Reports, Orange County Register, 12 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Harris is leading by a minute percent in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania, while Trump is slightly ahead in Georgia, North Carolina and Wisconsin.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024
Across the 20-or-so minute conversation, the Haitian-American star re-emphasized her hurt following former president Donald Trump’s claims that Haitian immigrants were eating pets in Springfield, Ohio while debating Harris on ABC News on Sept. 10.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
See all Example Sentences for minute
Dictionary Entries Near minute
Cite this Entry
“Minute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minute. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
minute
1 of 2 noun
min·ute
ˈmin-ət 
1
a
: the 60th part of an hour of time
b
: the 60th part of a degree of angular measure
2
: the distance one can cover in a minute
3
4
plural
: a brief record of what went on in a meeting
Medical Definition
minute
noun
min·ute
ˈmin-ət
: a 60th part of an hour of time or of a degree
Legal Definition
minute
noun
min·ute
ˈmi-nət
1
: a brief note (as of summary or recommendation)
3
plural
: the official record of the proceedings of a meeting or court
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