\begin{definition}[Definition:Minor of Determinant]
Let $\mathbf A = \sqbrk a_n$ be a square matrix of order $n$.
Consider the order $k$ square submatrix $\mathbf B$ obtained by deleting $n - k$ rows and $n - k$ columns from $\mathbf A$.
Let $\map \det {\mathbf B}$ denote the determinant of $\mathbf B$.
Then $\map \det {\mathbf B}$ is an '''order-$k$ minor''' of $\map \det {\mathbf A}$.
Thus a '''minor''' is a determinant formed from the elements (in the same relative order) of $k$ specified rows and columns.
\end{definition}