main

¹ American  

[meyn] / meɪn /

adjective

1. chief in size, extent, or importance; principal; leading.

   the company's main office;

   the main features of a plan.

   Synonyms:

   capital, primary, paramount, prime, cardinal

   Antonyms:

   least, secondary

2. sheer; utmost, as strength or force.

   to lift a stone by main force.

   Synonyms:

   unqualified, pure

3. of or relating to a broad expanse.

   main sea.

4. Grammar. syntactically independent; capable of use in isolation.

5. Nautical.

   1. of or relating to a mainmast.

   2. noting or pertaining to a sail, yard, boom, etc., or to any rigging belonging to a mainmast.

   3. noting any stay running aft and upward to the head of a mainmast.

      main topmast stay.

6. Obsolete.

   1. having or exerting great strength or force; mighty.

   2. having momentous or important results; significant.

---

noun

1. a principal pipe or duct in a system used to distribute water, gas, etc.

   Synonyms:

   conduit

2. physical strength, power, or force.

   to struggle with might and main.

   Synonyms:

   might

   Antonyms:

   weakness

3. the chief or principal part or point.

   The main of their investments was lost during the war.

4. Literary. the open ocean; high sea.

   the bounding main.

5. the mainland.

6. Usually mains a main course in a meal.

   The restaurant offers four mains: one chicken, two beef, and one fish.

adverb

1. South Midland U.S. (chiefly Appalachian). very; exceedingly.

   The dogs treed a main big coon.

verb (used with or without object)

1. Slang. mainline.

idioms

1. in the main, for the most part; chiefly.

   In the main, the novel was dull reading.

main ² American  

[meyn] / meɪn /

noun

1. a cockfighting match.

---

Main ³ American  

[meyn, mahyn] / meɪn, maɪn /

noun

1. a river in central and W Germany, flowing W from the Bohemian Forest in N Bavaria into the Rhine at Mainz. 305 miles (490 km) long.

---

main ¹ British  

/ meɪn /

adjective

1. chief or principal in rank, importance, size, etc

2. sheer or utmost (esp in the phrase by main force )

3. nautical of, relating to, or denoting any gear, such as a stay or sail, belonging to the mainmast

4. obsolete significant or important

---

noun

1. a principal pipe, conduit, duct, or line in a system used to distribute water, electricity, etc

2. (plural)

   1. the main distribution network for water, gas, or electricity

   2. ( as modifier )

      mains voltage

3. the chief or most important part or consideration

4. great strength or force (now chiefly in the phrase ( with ) might and main )

5. literary the open ocean

6. archaic short for Spanish Main

7. archaic short for mainland

8. on the whole; for the most part

main ² British  

/ meɪn /

noun

1. a throw of the dice in dice games

2. a cockfighting contest

3. a match in archery, boxing, etc

---

Main ³ British  

/ meɪn, main /

noun

1. a river in central and W Germany, flowing west through Würzburg and Frankfurt to the Rhine. Length: about 515 km (320 miles)

---

main More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing main

• eye to the main chance
• in the main
• might and main

---

Etymology

Origin of main¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun main(e), mayn(e) “strength, power,” Old English mægen, megen, cognate with Old Norse magn, megin, megn “strength”; Middle English adjective main(e), partly from Old Norse megin-, megn “strong,” partly from Old English noun mægen used in compounds, as in mægen-weorc “mighty work”

Origin of main²

First recorded in 1560–70; origin uncertain; perhaps special use of main ¹; compare main chance

Example Sentences

The main difference between the plans is the number of extra goodies you get alongside the VPN service.

From Salon

The second, and main cohort, will help with operations in the Eastern Cape, Free State, North West and Western Cape provinces from 1 April for a year.

From BBC

“The Price,” directed by Elina de Santos, thrives in the intimacy of Pacific Resident Theatre’s main stage.

From Los Angeles Times

England captain and all-time record scorer Kane remains irreplaceable - as shown against Uruguay and Japan - as the main striker, while Bukayo Saka's quality and major tournament experience make him an automatic choice.

From BBC

The Provisional IRA - the main armed republican paramilitary group for most of the Troubles - declared a ceasefire in the run up to the agreement and officially ended its violent campaign in 2005.

From BBC

Related Words

• central
• essential
• fundamental
• leading
• major
• particular
• preeminent
• primary
• prime
• special
• vital