Minute vs. Small: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Minute describes something extremely small or insignificant, while Small refers to something of a lesser size, amount, or degree than the average or usual.
Key Differences
The term Minute emphasizes an extremely small size or degree, often used to describe something so small it's almost negligible. The word Small, on the other hand, is a more general term indicating that something is lesser in size, quantity, or extent compared to others of its kind or what is typical.
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Nov 14, 2023
Minute is often used to describe fine details or very small components, suggesting a level of precision or attention to detail. In contrast, Small can refer to physical size, amount, or degree but does not necessarily imply extreme tininess or detailed precision.
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Nov 14, 2023
When something is described as Minute, it often conveys a sense of being intricate or requiring careful scrutiny to be noticed. Meanwhile, describing something as Small does not inherently suggest intricacy or the need for careful observation; it simply means it is not large.
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Nov 14, 2023
The usage of Minute can also carry a connotation of insignificance or triviality due to its extreme smallness. However, Small is a more neutral term, merely indicating size without necessarily implying importance or lack thereof.
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Nov 14, 2023
In scientific and technical contexts, Minute can refer to minute particles or minute quantities, highlighting the precision of measurement or observation. Whereas Small in similar contexts would suggest a relative, rather than extreme, reduction in size or quantity.
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Nov 14, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Degree of Size
Extremely small, almost negligible.
Lesser in size, not necessarily very tiny.
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Implication
Precision, intricacy, often insignificance.
Simply lesser in size, neutral.
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Nov 14, 2023
Usage Context
Fine details, minute aspects.
General size comparison, broader use.
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Nov 14, 2023
Connotation
May imply triviality or meticulous detail.
No inherent connotation of importance.
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Nov 14, 2023
Example in Science
Minute particles, minute quantities.
Small sample size, small amount.
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Minute and Small Definitions
Minute
Extremely small.
The clockmaker repaired the minute gears of the watch.
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Nov 14, 2023
Small
Not large in amount, degree, or extent.
He made a small adjustment to the machine.
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Nov 14, 2023
Minute
A written record of a meeting or discussion.
She took the minutes of the board meeting.
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Nov 14, 2023
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Minute
A unit of angular measurement equal to one sixtieth of a degree, or 60 seconds. Also called arcminute, minute of arc.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
A measure of the distance one can cover in a minute
Lives ten minutes from school.
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
Being below average in quantity or extent
A small donation.
A small project.
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
Having limited position, influence, or status; minor
"A crowd of small writers had vainly attempted to rival Addison" (Thomas Macaulay).
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
Unpretentious; modest
Made a small living.
Helped the cause in my own small way.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
Characterized by careful scrutiny and close examination
Held a minute inspection of the grounds.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
A unit of time equal to sixty seconds (one-sixtieth of an hour).
You have twenty minutes to complete the test.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
(informal) A short but unspecified time period.
Wait a minute, I’m not ready yet!
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
A unit of angle equal to one-sixtieth of a degree.
We need to be sure these maps are accurate to within one minute of arc.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
A (usually formal) written record of a meeting or a part of a meeting.
Let’s look at the minutes of last week’s meeting.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
A unit of purchase on a telephone or other similar network, especially a cell phone network, roughly equivalent in gross form to sixty seconds' use of the network.
If you buy this model, you’ll get 100 free minutes.
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
A part that is smaller or narrower than the rest
The small of the back.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
(obsolete) A very small part of anything, or anything very small; a jot; a whit.
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
Not large or big; insignificant; few in number.
A small serving of ice cream.
A small group.
He made us all feel small.
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
(figuratively) Young, as a child.
Remember when the children were small?
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
A while or a long unspecified period of time
Oh, I ain't heard that song in a minute!
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
(transitive) Of an event, to write in a memo or the minutes of a meeting.
I’ll minute this evening’s meeting.
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
Humiliated or insignificant.
The bullies had succeeded in making him feel small.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
To set down a short sketch or note of; to jot down; to make a minute or a brief summary of.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
Very small.
They found only minute quantities of chemical residue on his clothing.
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Small
Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short.
A small space of time
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
Very careful and exact, giving small details.
The lawyer gave the witness a minute examination.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
The sixtieth part of an hour; sixty seconds. (Abbrev. m. or min.; as, 4 h. 30 m.
Four minutes, that is to say, minutes of an hour.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
The sixtieth part of a degree; sixty seconds (Marked thus (´); as, 10° 20´).
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
That is small the manufactured size.
I'll have a small coffee, thanks.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
A very small part of anything, or anything very small; a jot; a tittle.
Minutes and circumstances of his passion.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
The memorandum; a record; a note to preserve the memory of anything; as, to take minutes of a contract; to take minutes of a conversation or debate; to read the minutes of the last meeting.
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
An item labelled or denoted as being that size.
Two smalls and a large, please.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
Of or pertaining to a minute or minutes; occurring at or marking successive minutes.
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
Any part of something that is smaller or slimmer than the rest, now usually with anatomical reference to the back.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
Very small; little; tiny; fine; slight; slender; inconsiderable; as, minute details.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
Attentive to small things; paying attention to details; critical; particular; precise; as, a minute observer; minute observation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
To set down a short sketch or note of; to jot down; to make a minute or a brief summary of.
The Empress of Russia, with her own hand, minuted an edict for universal tolerance.
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
Having little size, compared with other things of the same kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large or extended in dimension; not great; not much; inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river.
To compareGreat things with small.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
A unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour;
He ran a 4 minute mile
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Small
Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a small fault; a small business.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
An indefinitely short time;
Wait just a moment
It only takes a minute
In just a bit
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; - sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean.
A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man.
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, after a small space.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
Distance measured by the time taken to cover it;
We live an hour from the airport
Its just 10 minutes away
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
Infinitely or immeasurably small;
Two minute whiplike threads of protoplasm
Reduced to a microscopic scale
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
The small or slender part of a thing; as, the small of the leg or of the back.
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
Characterized by painstaking care and detailed examination;
A minute inspection of the grounds
A narrow scrutiny
An exact and minute report
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Oct 19, 2023
Minute
Insignificant or trivial.
The differences between the two plans are minute.
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Nov 14, 2023
Minute
A period of time equal to sixty seconds.
I'll be ready in just a minute.
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Nov 14, 2023
Small
Limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent;
A little dining room
A little house
A small car
A little (or small) group
A small voice
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
Limited in size or scope;
A small business
A newspaper with a modest circulation
Small-scale plans
A pocket-size country
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
Low or inferior in station or quality;
A humble cottage
A lowly parish priest
A modest man of the people
Small beginnings
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
Not large but sufficient in size or amount;
A modest salary
Modest inflation
Helped in my own small way
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
Slight or limited; especially in degree or intensity or scope;
A series of death struggles with small time in between
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
Made to seem smaller or less (especially in worth);
Her comments made me feel small
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Oct 19, 2023
Small
Lowercase;
Little a
Small a
E.e.cummings's poetry is written all in minuscule letters
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is 'small' used for trivial things?
Not necessarily; it's more neutral in connotation.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 14, 2023
What does 'minute' mean in terms of size?
It refers to something extremely small.
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Nov 14, 2023
Is 'small' only used to describe size?
No, 'small' can describe size, amount, degree, or importance.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 14, 2023
Can 'minute' describe quantity?
Rarely. It's primarily used for size or degree of importance.
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Nov 14, 2023
How does 'small' differ in meaning?
It means lesser in size, not necessarily extremely tiny.
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Nov 14, 2023
How do 'small' and 'minute' differ?
'Small' is more general, while 'minute' implies something is extremely small.
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Nov 14, 2023
What does 'minute' mean when not referring to time?
'Minute' as an adjective describes something extremely small or insignificant.
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Nov 14, 2023
Can 'minute' mean trivial?
Yes, it can imply something is so small it's almost trivial.
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Nov 14, 2023
Can 'small' be used in a technical context?
Yes, like 'small parts' or 'small scale'.
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Nov 14, 2023
Is 'minute' related to precision?
Yes, it can imply something so small it requires precision to notice.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 14, 2023
Is 'minute' used in everyday language?
It's less common and more formal than 'small'.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 14, 2023
Can 'small' describe time?
Not usually, it's mostly used for physical dimensions or quantities.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 14, 2023
How is 'small' used in business language?
In terms like 'small business' or 'small investment'.
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Nov 14, 2023
Are there synonyms for 'minute' in this context?
Yes, like 'tiny', 'minuscule', or 'microscopic'.
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Nov 14, 2023
Can 'small' have a positive connotation?
Yes, in contexts like 'small joy' or 'small victory'.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 14, 2023
Is 'minute' ever used positively?
Less common, but can be in contexts like 'minute details'.
Shumaila Saeed
Nov 14, 2023
Does 'minute' have a different pronunciation?
Yes, when not referring to time, it's pronounced as 'my-newt'.
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Nov 14, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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