major vs substantial

major

adj
  • Prominent or significant in size, amount, or degree. 

  • Equivalent to that between the tonic and another note of a major scale, and greater by a semitone than the corresponding minor interval. 

  • Having a major third above the root. 

  • Of or relating to a subject of academic study chosen as a field of specialization. 

  • Bell changes rung on eight bells. 

  • Containing the major term in a categorical syllogism. 

  • Greater in dignity, rank, importance, significance, or interest. 

  • Of full legal age, having attained majority. 

  • Greater in number, quantity, or extent. 

  • (of a key) Based on a major scale, tending to produce a bright or joyful effect. 

  • Involving great risk, serious, life-threatening. 

  • Occurring as the predicate in the conclusion of a categorical syllogism. 

  • Notable or conspicuous in effect or scope. 

  • Having intervals of a semitone between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees. 

verb
  • Used in a phrasal verb: major in. 

noun
  • A large, commercially successful company, especially a record label that is bigger than an indie. 

  • An officer in charge of a section of band instruments, used with a modifier. 

  • A system of change-ringing using eight bells. 

  • A touchdown, or major score. 

  • The principal subject or course of a student working toward a degree at a college or university. 

  • A student at a college or university specializing on a given area of study. 

  • A rank of officer in the army and the US air force, between captain and lieutenant colonel. 

  • A goal. 

  • A person of legal age. 

  • A large leaf-cutter ant that acts as a soldier, defending the nest. 

substantial

adj
  • Large in size, quantity, or value; ample; significant. 

  • Most important; essential. 

  • Not imaginary; real; actual; true; veritable. 

  • Having a substance; actually existing. 

  • Corporeal; material; firm. 

  • Possessed of goods or an estate; moderately wealthy. 

  • Satisfying; having sufficient substance to be nourishing or filling. 

  • Having good substance; strong; stout; solid; firm. 

noun
  • Anything having substance; an essential part. 

How often have the words major and substantial occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )