main line

¹ American  

noun

1. a principal line or route of a railroad, as contrasted with a branch or secondary one.

2. a principal highway.

3. Slang.

   1. a prominent and readily accessible vein of the body that may be used for a narcotic's injection.

   2. the act of mainlining.

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Main Line ² American  

noun

1. a fashionable residential district west of Philadelphia.

2. any fashionable district where socially prominent people live.

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main line British  

noun

1. railways

   1. the trunk route between two points, usually fed by branch lines

   2. ( as modifier )

      a main-line station

2. a main road

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verb

1. slang  (intr) to inject a drug into a vein

adjective

1. having an important position, esp having responsibility for the main areas of activity

Other Word Forms

• Main-Line adjective
• Main-Liner noun
• mainliner noun

Etymology

Origin of main line

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

He added that the force had "so many main lines of inquiries" and it "wouldn't have been feasible to search the whole of Brantham and the whole of the countryside".

From BBC

Trials have been done using "ropeless creels" which have the main line in a container along with a buoy and these are lowered to the seabed with the creels.

From BBC

Nicknames are a tell for Trump — a brand for his main line of attack.

From Los Angeles Times

The depletion of mangrove forests along the shoreline - the coast’s main line of defence against erosion - is to blame.

From BBC

A message The Associated Press left on the city’s Law Department main line seeking comment Monday wasn’t immediately returned.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• affluent
• booming
• comfortable
• flourishing
• fortunate
• rich
• robust
• wealthy
• well-heeled
• well-off
• well-to-do