Close, but no cigar, McGrath. It's the 3rd, not the 5th, that gives a chord it's identity as either major or minor.

Actually, if it sounds good and it creates the effect you want, then whatthehell! It's only when you are communicating with others that you need to be fairly precise. Suppose you're playing all six strings and, whether through fingering or using a special tuning, sounding only Es and Bs at a particular point in a song. Somebody asks you "What chord are you playing there, E or Em?" Since you are not playing either, in order to not mislead him or her, you would have to go into a bit of detail. I don't know of any symbol (other than written music) that describes the situation briefly.

Zebedee's original question called for a precise definition. I think we've covered it.

Don Firth