Minute
Unit of time equal to 60 seconds, with historical sexagesimal roots.
The minute is a unit of time defined as equal to 60 seconds. In the UTC time standard, a minute on rare occasions has 61 seconds due to leap seconds, and a provision exists for a 59-second minute, though this has never occurred in more than 40 years.
- definition
- 60 seconds (rarely 61 or 59 seconds in UTC)
- etymology
- Latin 'pars minuta prima' (first small part)
- symbol
- min, or prime symbol (′) informally
Lore & Background
The term itself originates from the Latin 'pars minuta prima,' meaning 'first small part,' with the second being the 'second small part' (pars minuta secunda).
Reader's Guide
The minute is a fundamental unit of time measurement, standardized as 60 seconds, though the UTC time standard allows for occasional leap seconds that can make a minute 61 seconds long, with a theoretical 59-second minute never having been implemented. Its historical development reflects the sexagesimal system inherited from Babylonian mathematics, formalized by Al-Biruni and later used by medieval scholars like Roger Bacon. The minute's symbol, the prime (′), and the second's double prime (″) visually represent successive divisions of the hour, analogous to feet and inches in length measurement. Today, the minute remains essential in timekeeping, navigation, and scientific contexts, though modern usage typically subdivides seconds decimally rather than using thirds or fourths.
Did You Know?
- The word 'minute' comes from the Latin 'pars minuta prima,' meaning 'first small part.'
- A negative leap second, which would create a 59-second minute, has never occurred in more than 40 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a minute in units of time?
A minute is a standard unit of time equal to exactly 60 seconds. It sits between the second and the hour in the base-60 timekeeping system we still use today.
Where does the word 'minute' come from?
The term traces back to the Latin phrase 'pars minuta prima,' which literally means 'first small part.' It originally described the first division of the hour into smaller equal segments.
Can a minute ever have more or fewer than 60 seconds?
Yes—under the UTC standard, a rare leap second can stretch a minute to 61 seconds, and a provision for a 59-second minute also exists. In practice, the 59-second version has never actually been triggered in over four decades.
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