mainline

[meyn-lahyn, -lahyn]

verb (used without object)

Slang.

mainlined, mainlining 

1. to inject a narcotic, especially heroin, directly into a vein.

2. to use or enjoy something without restriction.

   to mainline on TV movies.

verb (used with object)

Slang.

mainlined, mainlining 

1. to inject (a narcotic, especially heroin) directly into a vein.

2. to use, enjoy, or imbibe (something) without restriction.

   mainlining coffee all day long.

adjective

1. having a principal, established, or widely accepted position; major; mainstream.

   the membership of mainline churches.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mainline¹

1935–40, v., adj. use of main line

Example Sentences

There had been nothing going out on the West Coast mainline and hardly any announcements, she said.

Read more on BBC

The tax burden would be disproportionately felt by progressive mainline Protestant churches, Black evangelical churches and immigrant-majority Catholic and Protestant congregations, not to mention immigrant-majority mosques and temples.

Read more on Salon

Alexander told BBC Breakfast that BTP officers would increase visible patrols at mainline stations over the coming days "because I do understand that people will want to feel reassured following what happened".

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Alaska faced a similar outage just three months ago when a critical piece of hardware at a data center failed, bringing down its systems and forcing it to cancel about 10% of its mainline schedule.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In July, Alaska canceled dozens of flights, or about 10% of its mainline schedule, after a critical piece of hardware at a data center failed, bringing down airline systems.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• dominant 
• key 
• leading 
• main 
• major 
• outstanding 
• paramount 
• predominant 
• preeminent 
• primary 
• prime 
• prominent