minute

Universal Words noun, verb-see also MINUTE noun part of hour 1 [C] (abbreviation min.) each of the 60 parts of an hour, that are equal to 60 seconds: It's four minutes to six. * I'll be back in a few minutes. * Boil the rice for 20 minutes. * a ten-minute bus ride * I enjoyed every minute of the party. * Just minutes into the second half of the game Robinson scored his second goal. very short time 2 [sing.] (spoken) a very short time: It only takes a minute to make a salad. * Hang on a minute-I'll just get my coat. * I just have to finish this-I won't be a minute. * Could I see you for a minute? * I'll be with you in a minute, Jo. * Typical English weather-one minute it's raining and the next minute the sun is shining! exact moment 3 [sing.] an exact moment in time: At that very minute, Tom walked in. angles 4 [C] each of the 60 equal parts of a degree, used in measuring angles: 37 degrees 30 minutes (37 ｰ 30') record of meeting 5 (usually the minutes) [pl.] a summary or record of what is said or decided at a formal meeting: We read through the minutes of the last meeting. * Who is going to take the minutes (= write them)? IDIOMS (at) any minute / moment (now) very soon: Hurry up! He'll be back any minute now. the minute / moment (that)... as soon as...: I want to see him the minute he arrives. * The minute she walked through the door I thought she looked different. not for a / one minute / moment certainly not; not at all: I don't think for a minute that she'll accept but you can ask her. this minute immediately; now: Come down from there this minute! * I don't know what I'm going to do yet-I've just this minute found out. to the minute exactly: The train arrived at 9.05 to the minute. up to the minute (informal) 1 fashionable and modern: Her styles are always up to the minute. 2 having the latest information: The traffic reports are up to the minute. seealsoUP-TO-THE-MINUTE moreatBORN, JUSTadv., LASTdet., WAITv. verb to write down sth that is said at a meeting in the official record (= THEMINUTES): [VN] I'd like that last remark to be minuted. [also Vthat] adjective-see also MINUTE (superlative minutest, no comparative) 1 extremely small: minute amounts of chemicals in the water * The kitchen on the boat is minute. 2 very detailed, careful and thorough: a minute examination / inspection * She remembered everything in minute detail / in the minutest detail(s). minutely adverb: The agreement has been examined minutely.