Definition:Time/Unit/Minute

Definition

The minute is a derived unit of time.

$1$ minute $= 60$ seconds.

Symbol

The symbol for the minute is $\mathrm {min}$.

Linguistic Note

The word minute, in the context of the measurement both of time and of angle, derives from its initial definition as a minute part of an hour or of a degree of arc.

In this context the word minute (meaning: the aggregation of $60$ seconds) is pronounced min-it.

The word minute (as used in the phrase minute part) is pronounced my-nyoot and means small.

So the fact that the two words are spelt identically is not a coincidence.

Sources

• 1986: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers ... (previous) ... (next): $60$
• 1997: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Numbers (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): $60$