maggiore

Maggiore is an Italian term meaning greater or major. It is used as an adjective to distinguish something larger or more important from a related item, often paired with minore (minor). In music, maggiore indicates a major key or interval, as in la maggiore (A major).

Lake Maggiore, or Lago Maggiore, is a large lake located in northern Italy and southern Switzerland. It lies mainly in the Piedmont and Lombardy regions of Italy and the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. Covering about 212 square kilometers, it is one of the largest lakes in Europe and the second largest in Italy. Towns on its shores include Verbania, Stresa, Arona, Angera, and Locarno on the opposite shore.

In the Italian military and civil service, Maggiore is the rank equivalent to Major.

Maggiore is also a surname of Italian origin, derived from the adjective meaning greater or elder. It is borne by individuals in Italy and in communities abroad due to migration.

Beyond these uses, Maggiore appears in various toponyms and institutional names, reflecting its status as a common Italian term for “major” or “greater.”