minor scale
    n 1: a diatonic scale with notes separated by whole tones except
         for the 2nd and 3rd and 5th and 6th [syn: minor scale,
         minor diatonic scale]

minor \mi"nor\ (m[imac]"n[~e]r), a. [L., a comparative with no
   positive; akin to AS. min small, G. minder less, OHG.
   minniro, a., min, adv., Icel. minni, a., minnr, adv., Goth.
   minniza, a., mins, adv., Ir. & Gael. min small, tender, L.
   minuere to lessen, Gr. miny`qein, Skr. mi to damage. Cf.
   Minish, Minister, Minus, Minute.]
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   1. Inferior in bulk, degree, importance, etc.; less; smaller;
      of little account; as, minor divisions of a body.
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   2. (Mus.) Less by a semitone in interval or difference of
      pitch; as, a minor third.
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   Asia Minor (Geog.), the Lesser Asia; that part of Asia
      which lies between the Euxine, or Black Sea, on the north,
      and the Mediterranean on the south.

   Minor mode (Mus.), that mode, or scale, in which the third
      and sixth are minor, -- much used for mournful and solemn
      subjects.

   Minor orders (Eccl.), the rank of persons employed in
      ecclesiastical offices who are not in holy orders, as
      doorkeepers, acolytes, etc.

   Minor scale (Mus.) The form of the minor scale is various.
      The strictly correct form has the third and sixth minor,
      with a semitone between the seventh and eighth, which
      involves an augmented second interval, or three semitones,
      between the sixth and seventh, as, 6/F, 7/G[sharp], 8/A.
      But, for melodic purposes, both the sixth and the seventh
      are sometimes made major in the ascending, and minor in
      the descending, scale, thus: 
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      [1913 Webster] See Major.

   Minor term of a syllogism (Logic), the subject of the
      conclusion.
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