1.
great discovery; major find; breakthrough
A major or important discovery. The intensifying prefix 大 emphasizes its significance; also used lightly in conversation for any exciting find.
それは大発見だ。
That's a major discovery!
科学者たちが大発見をした。
The scientists made a great discovery.
この遺跡の発掘は歴史的な大発見だった。
Excavating this site was a historic discovery.
Composed of the intensifying prefix 大 (big, great) + 発見 (discovery). It refers to a major or important discovery—scientific, historical, or, often playfully, an everyday revelation.
USAGE:
- 歴史的な大発見: a historic discovery
- Also used lightly in conversation for any exciting personal find.
RELATED WORDS:
- 発見: discovery — the base word
- 発明: invention — creating something new, as opposed to finding it