main

¹

[meyn]

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.

main

²

[meyn]

noun

1. a cockfighting match.

Main

³

[meyn, mahyn]

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

/ 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

/ meɪn /

noun

1. a throw of the dice in dice games

2. a cockfighting contest

3. a match in archery, boxing, etc

Main

³

/ 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)

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of main¹

C13: from Old English mægen strength

Origin of main²

C16: of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   In the main, the novel was dull reading.

More idioms and phrases containing main

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

Example Sentences

It also pointed out that its main crossing point for people at Erez had been targeted by Hamas fighters during the assault.

Read more on BBC

The Russian oil-and-gas industry, which is the main source of currency for the Russian state, is particularly exposed, with key pipeline nodes, pumping stations and export ports within range.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“I don’t think data collection will necessarily be the main issue. The bigger problem for them is one of staffing.”

Read more on Barron's

Following clues picked up from Instagram, I climbed some hills above the town’s main street and wandered through a quiet residential neighborhood, looking for his bar.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When I met the Australian actor backstage ahead of the first live show, he told me his main reason for taking part was so he could take his wife out dancing.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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