Minute

A minute is a unit of time. Its definition depends on context, but commonly refers to:

1. Time:

• A minute is a unit of time equal to 60 seconds. It is part of the modern metric system of units, though not an SI base unit (the second is).
• There are 60 minutes in an hour and 1,440 minutes in a day.
• The symbol for minute is 'min'.

2. Angle:

• In geometry, a minute of arc (or arcminute) is a unit of angular measurement equal to 1/60 of a degree. It is used to measure angles, especially in fields such as astronomy, surveying, and navigation.
• The symbol for minute of arc is '′' (a single prime).

3. Geographic Coordinates:

• In geography, minutes are used alongside degrees to specify geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude). For example, 34°03′N represents 34 degrees and 3 minutes north latitude.

4. Informal Usage:

• The term "minute" is also sometimes used colloquially to refer to a short period of time. This usage is not precise.

Etymology:

The word "minute" comes from the Latin "pars minuta prima," meaning "first small part." This refers to the initial division of an hour into 60 parts.

Related Terms:

• Second
• Hour
• Degree
• Arcsecond