Minute: meaning, definitions and examples
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minute
[ ˈmɪnɪt ]
measurement of time
A minute is a unit of time equal to 60 seconds. It is commonly used to measure short durations or intervals.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- Wait a minute, I'll be right back.
- The meeting will start in five minutes.
- She arrived at the last minute before the show started.
small amount of time
A minute can also refer to a very short period of time, often used informally to indicate a brief moment.
Synonyms
brief moment, moment, short time
Examples of usage
- Just a minute, I need to finish this email.
- I'll be there in a minute, don't worry.
to pay attention to detail
To minute something means to pay careful attention to the details or specifics of a situation or task.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She minuted every detail of the meeting for the record.
- The secretary minuted the decisions made during the conference.
Translations
Translations of the word "minute" in other languages:
🇵🇹 minuto
🇮🇳 मिनट
🇩🇪 Minute
🇮🇩 menit
🇺🇦 хвилина
🇵🇱 minuta
🇯🇵 分 (ふん)
🇫🇷 minute
🇪🇸 minuto
🇹🇷 dakika
🇰🇷 분 (bun)
🇸🇦 دقيقة
🇨🇿 minuta
🇸🇰 minúta
🇨🇳 分钟 (fēnzhōng)
🇸🇮 minuta
🇮🇸 mínúta
🇰🇿 минут
🇬🇪 წუთი
🇦🇿 dəqiqə
🇲🇽 minuto
Word origin
The word 'minute' originated from the Latin word 'minuta', which means 'small' or 'minute' (as in a small part of an hour). The concept of dividing an hour into 60 minutes dates back to ancient times. In medieval Europe, mechanical clocks were developed that could measure minutes, further solidifying the use of the term. Over time, 'minute' has come to represent both a specific unit of time and a brief moment or small amount of time.