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Dominant vs Significant - What's the difference?

dominant | significant |

As nouns the difference between dominant and significant

is that dominant is (music) the fifth major tone of a musical scale (five major steps above the note in question); thus g is the dominant of c, a of d, and so on while significant is that which has significance; a sign; a token; a symbol.

As adjectives the difference between dominant and significant

is that dominant is ruling; governing; prevailing; controlling while significant is signifying something; carrying meaning.

dominant

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (music) The fifth major tone of a musical scale (five major steps above the note in question); thus G is the dominant of C, A of D, and so on.
  • (music) The triad built on the dominant tone.
  • (BDSM) The dominating partner in sadomasochistic sexual activity.
  • * 2011 , Jayne Rylon, Mistress's Master (page 65)
    • His story was a fable you told dominants in training to stress the importance of comprehending the depths of your submissive's needs.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Ruling; governing; prevailing; controlling.
    • The dominant party controlled the government.
  • * Macaulay
    • The member of a dominant race is, in his dealings with the subject race, seldom indeed fraudulent, but imperious, insolent, and cruel.
  • Predominant, common, prevalent, of greatest importance.
    • The dominant plants of the Carboniferous were lycopods and early conifers.
  • * 2009 , H. Stephen Stoker, General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry , page 10
    • All other elements are mere "impurities" when their abundances are compared with those of these two dominant elements.

    Synonyms

    * imposing * prevalent

    Antonyms

    * (ruling) obedient, submissive (one who obeys''); defiant, rebellious (''one who defys )

    significant

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Signifying something; carrying meaning.
    • a significant''' word or sound; a '''significant look
  • * Sir Walter Raleigh
    • It was well said of Plotinus, that the stars were significant , but not efficient.
  • Having a covert or hidden meaning.
  • Having a noticeable or major effect; notable.
    • That was a significant step in the right direction.
    The First World War was a significant event.
  • Reasonably large in number or amount.
  • (statistics) Having a low probability of occurring by chance (for example, having high correlation and thus likely to be related).

    • Related terms

    * significance * significant other * signify

    Synonyms

    * important

    Antonyms

    * insignificant * ignorable * negligible * slight

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • That which has significance; a sign; a token; a symbol.
    • (Wordsworth)
  • * Shakespeare
    • In dumb significants proclaim your thoughts.
    (Webster 1913) ----