Definition of 'main'
Word forms: plural mains
1. adjective
The main thing is the most important one of several similar things in a particular situation.
2.
See in the main
3. countable noun [usually plural]
The mains are the pipes which supply gas or water to buildings, or which take sewage away from them.
4. plural noun
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Video: pronunciation of
main
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
Word Frequency
main in British English 1
noun
5.
6. (plural)
a.
the main distribution network for water, gas, or electricity
b.
(as modifier)
mains voltage
7.
the chief or most important part or consideration
12. See in the main
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C13: from Old English mægen strength
Word Frequency
Main in American English
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin
G < Gaul Moenus < IE *moin-, river name < base *mei-, to go, wander > L meare, to go
Word Frequency
main in American English
noun
1.
physical strength; force; power
now only in with might and main, with all one's strength2.
the principal or most important part or point
usually in the phrase in the main, mostly, chiefly 3.
a principal pipe, conduit, or line in a distribution system for water, gas, electricity,
etc.
4. OLD-FASHIONED, Poetic
the high, or open, sea; ocean
adjective
9.
chief in size, extent, importance, etc.; principal; leading; specif., designating a large central unit on which subsidiaries or branches depend
the main post office
10.
of, near, or connected with the mainmast or mainsail
12. Obsolete
designating a broad expanse of land, sea, or space
SIMILAR WORDS: chief
Idioms:
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
main in American English 1
(mein)
adjective
1.
chief in size, extent, or importance; principal; leading
the company's main office
the main features of a plan
2.
sheer; utmost, as strength or force
to lift a stone by main force
4. Grammar
syntactically independent; capable of use in isolation
Compare dependent (sense 4), independent (sense 14), main clause5. Nautical
a.
of or pertaining to a mainmast
noun
7.
a principal pipe or duct in a system used to distribute water, gas, etc
8.
physical strength, power, or force
to struggle with might and main
9.
the chief or principal part or point
The main of their investments was lost during the war
10. literary
the open ocean; high sea
the bounding main
11.
the mainland
12. See in the main
adverb
SYNONYMS 1. cardinal, prime, paramount, primary, capital. 2. pure, direct. 7. conduit. 8. might.ANTONYMS 1. secondary, least. 8. weakness.13. (in South Midland US dialect, chiefly in Appalachia)
very; exceedingly
The dogs treed a main big coon
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[bef. 900; (n.) ME meyn, mayn strength, power, OE mægen, c. ON megin(n), megn strength; (adj.) ME mayn, partly ‹ ON megenn, megn strong, partly independent use of OE mægen (n.) taken as an adj. in compounds, as in mægen-weorc, lit., work of might]Word Frequency
main in American English 2
(mein)
noun
a cockfighting match
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Word origin
[1560–70; perh. special use of main1; cf. main chance]Examples of 'main' in a sentence
main
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main
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In other languages
main
British English: main
/meɪn/ ADJECTIVE
The main thing is the most important one.
...one of the main tourist areas of the city.
- American English: main /ˈmeɪn/
- Arabic: أَسَاسِيّ
- Brazilian Portuguese: principal
- Chinese: 主要的
- Croatian: glavni
- Czech: hlavní
- Danish: vigtigste
- Dutch: hoofd-
- European Spanish: principal
- Finnish: pää-
- French: principal plus important
- German: Haupt-
- Greek: κύριος
- Italian: principale
- Japanese: 主な
- Korean: 주요한
- Norwegian: hoved-
- Polish: główny najważniejszy
- European Portuguese: principal
- Romanian: principal
- Russian: главный
- Latin American Spanish: principal
- Swedish: huvud-
- Thai: ซึ่งเป็นหลัก, สำคัญที่สุด
- Turkish: temel
- Ukrainian: головний
- Vietnamese: chủ yếu
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