[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/minim/)

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# minim

noun (a minim, minims)

«minim» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (music, UK, Australia, NZ, Ireland) A note that lasts for two beats in common time; in the US it is called a «half note». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/minim/#m1)
2. (old measure) A tiny unit of liquid, about one drop. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/minim/#m2)
3. (handwriting) A short downward stroke of the pen, as in the letters m, n, u and i. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/minim/#m3)

### In the lessons

In music lessons, children learn note values: semibreve (4 beats), minim (2 beats), crotchet (1 beat), quaver (half a beat). A minim looks like a hollow oval with a stem. In maths and music together: two minims fill a 4/4 bar, or one minim equals two crotchets. Phrases: «a minim rest», «dotted minim» (3 beats).

### Examples

- A minim lasts for two beats. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/minim/#x1)
- Two minims fill one bar in 4/4 time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/minim/#x2)
- A dotted minim lasts for three beats. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/minim/#x3)
- The minim looks like an empty circle with a stick. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/minim/#x4)
- In America, a minim is called a half note. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/minim/#x5)
- One minim equals two crotchets. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/minim/#x6)
- Hold the minim for two counts: «one, two». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/minim/#x7)
- The song ends on a long minim. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/minim/#x8)

### Note

Countable: one minim, two minims. UK names vs US names: semibreve = whole note, minim = half note, crotchet = quarter note, quaver = eighth note. Maths: a dotted note is worth 1½ times the note (dotted minim = 2 + 1 = 3 beats). Do not confuse with «minimum».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «minim» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/minim/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«minim» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/minim.html) on Mova free.